Occupational health (OH) is a type of multidisciplinary medical service.
It is about how work affects employees’ both mental and physical health and how employees’ health affects their work.
The aim of occupational health is to ensure that ill health, both physical and mental, is removed or reduced to ensure that employees have the greatest chance to perform with maximum productivity.
Corporate Personal Wellbeing believes that occupational health should be preventative, proactive, and personal.
Occupational health professionals
Occupational health services are manged by qualified medical professionals. Doctors, nurses, and consultants trained in occupational health.
Being a multidisciplinary team, other professionals including OH technicians, advisors, practitioners, physiotherapists, psychotherapists may all be involved in some way with occupational health in your workplace.
Other responsible persons may also be involved, including your management team, HR or team members as appropriate for your workplace.
Occupational health services
The occupational health and wellbeing services in your workplace should be bespoke to your company and its requirements.
It is a legal requirement for your company to perform health checks for employees exposed to health risks in the workplace. These repeated health checks are called Health Surveillance. The checks should remain even after controls are put in place. This ensures continual health and compliance.
Pre and post-employment screening allows for employees to be screened to obtain a review of their health and wellbeing. This is important for staff joining and leaving an organisation. The effects of work on their health and wellbeing, and their health and wellbeing effect on their work are extremely important for both the company and the employee.
Return to work physical and mental health screening can ensure that the transition of return complies with both legal and moral obligations. The transition can be a challenging time for the employee and particular care should be taken to ensure the maximum possible level of wellbeing for the employee.
Vaccine services can range from the yearly flu jab to travel immunisations. An occupational health nurse (OHN) can administer vaccinations on-site to remove the requirement for visiting local health services; reducing strain on both the company and the NHS or private services.
Further services include occupational hygiene, health policy, health promotion schemes amongst others. Here is a detailed overview of occupational health services.
Is occupational therapy the same as occupational health?
This is a common misconception. Occupational therapy differs from occupational health as it primarily is aimed at improving an individual’s abilities to undertake everyday tasks. This may be overcoming ill-health, physical and or psychological conditions using a range of bespoke interventions and practices.
Whilst occupational therapy can be used in the workplace, it takes a much more holistic approach and is carried though a person’s entire life. Occupational therapists work in healthcare and community settings and are people focused.
They can work within businesses and assist with occupational health as the skills and knowledge are transferable.
Additional services
Occupational health should be complimented with further employee wellbeing services. This can take many forms and again should be bespoke to your team and company.
Take a look at Corporate Personal Wellbeing’s complete range of proactive and preventative wellbeing services.