Occupational Health: Assessments, Improvements, and Best Practices

Does your organization need to implement an occupational health program? In this article, we offer the basics behind occupational health, what goes into a proper assessment, and even more. Moreover, what role does technology play in all of us? Read on to hear the whole story!
Contents
- What is Occupational Health?
- What Is An Occupational Health Assessment?
- What Does UK Law Say About Occupational Health?
- Do Companies Have To Have An Occupational Health Program?
- What Occupational Health Services Do Companies Typically Offer?
- How Can Companies Help Improve Employee Health?
- How Can Technology Help Improve Occupational Health?
- Making Occupational Health A Priority
What is Occupational Health?
Occupational health can be broadly understood as keeping people safe at work. Essentially, it is about preventing and treating job-related injuries or illnesses. In recent years, though, the focus has shifted to an emphasis on overall wellbeing at work â not simply physical injuries, but both physical and mental health (and the role workplaces play).
Is Occupational Health A Good Thing?
Occupational health is designed to ensure that employees feel good at work. Not just physically, but in the sense of wellbeing, too. It helps to manage risks for employees, which also offsets risks for employers when it comes to lost productivity. Essentially, everyone feels well, and everyone benefits.
Why are Occupational Health Services Important?
Occupational health services, like those provided by the NHS can help with health promotion and wellbeing, workplace immunizations, health surveillance and prevention, risk assessments, rehabilitation, and absence management â just to name a few.
Itâs important that employers take these seriously because good occupational has a number of benefits, including:
Lower levels of absenteeism
Improved staff morale and motivation
Increased productivity and
Fewer injuries.
Research has even found a link between stock market price growth and having a great employee wellness program.
How Do the NHS and WHO Define Things?
While the NHS Health at Work Network says that it is the role of occupational health services to "keep your employees healthy and safe whilst in work and manage any risks in the workplace that are likely to give rise to work-related ill health."
The World Health Organisation (WHO)âs definition, on the other hand, focuses more on âdisease from major occupational risks, such as injuries, airborne exposures, carcinogens, ergonomic stressors, noise, and other specific risks.â
According to the WHO, âIt is estimated that 2.1% of all deaths and 2.7% of the disease burden worldwide can be attributed to quantified occupational risks.â
In European countries, however, we are much more fortunate. Yes, over 170 million days are lost to sickness absence every year with an estimated cost to the economy of ÂŁ100bn, according to NHS Health at Work, but citizens in developed nations are far less likely to suffer from the dangers and diseases that plague workers in other countries.
Does that mean occupational health should be taken less seriously in the UK and Europe than elsewhere, though? Absolutely not.
What Is An Occupational Health Assessment?
You can think of an occupational health assessment as something of a test. Carried out by an Occupational Health Physician, this kind of assessment is designed to advise employers on how to make their workplace safer for employees. They will often make key recommendations that organizations can see through to make improvements.
A number of different types of occupational health assessments exist, including:
Pre-employment health assessments
Fitness for work assessments
Job-specific assessments
Mental health assessments
What Does UK Law Say About Occupational Health?
As an employer, you arenât legally required to provide occupational health services to your employees in the UK. But you do have to look after your employeesâ health at work. Itâs the law. Hereâs what the HSE says on their âplanning for health and safetyâ web page.
Hereâs The LawâŠ
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the HSW Act), you have to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable , the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do or do not do. It applies to all work activities and premises and everyone at work has responsibilities under it, including the self-employed.
Employees must take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work. They must also co-operate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also apply to every work activity and workplace and require all risks to be assessed and, where necessary, controlled.
Do Companies Have To Have An Occupational Health Program?
Employers do have to follow certain guidelines, but you may not need to have a specific âoccupational health programâ in place. That is up to an employer, but there are some key things to keep in mind that are legally requiredâŠ
According to the HSE, âAs an employer, youâre required by law to protect your employees, and others, from harm.â
This is often referred to as âhealth and safetyâ in the UK, although other countries may use the term occupational health. To manage health and safety effectively you need to look after your organization, your workers, and your workplace. The HSE continues to say that âManaging health and safety is an integral part of managing your business.â
In addition, Worksmart says that employers do not have to provide an occupational health service as itâs up to you what health services you offer your staff and how. In fact, less than 1/7 small or medium-sized companies provide occupational health facilities â but the NHS Health at Work service is there to help everyone.
What Occupational Health Services Do Companies Typically Offer?
Some companies may choose to have a workplace occupational health service. This service allows employees to visit a company doctor and/or nurse, with specialist training, completely on-site.
This is not mandatory, though, and will typically on:
Your companyâs size
The needs of your workers
The affordability of employing a health professional
Your attitude to employee health
According to WorkSmart, companies may choose to provide these services and/or healthcare plans and/or employee assistance programs (EAP).
They also state that approximately two million workers in Britain have access to an EAP which includes a telephone helpline, access to counseling, and advice on personal and work-related issues.
How Can Companies Help Improve Employee Health?
In todayâs knowledge-based economy many workers are predominantly office-based or desk-bound. As we covered in the blog post on work-life balance, keeping people healthy, productive, and motivated means requiring them to take care of themselves, as well as helping them balance their work.
Some ways in which companies can encourage to improve office workersâ occupational health include very basic activities like:
Sitting properly at a comfortable desk that is adapted for their physiology
Taking regular breaks, including micro-breaks and stretching their muscles
Getting outside, into the fresh air, and doing exercise every day.
How Can Technology Help Improve Occupational Health?
Technology can help companies improve their employeesâ occupational health too: from offering EAPs and telemedicine to funding fitness trackers or even using technology to help them do their jobs better.
For example, while telemedicine is not yet commonplace in Europe or the UK, Forbes reports that digital technologies like fitness trackers have been shown to improve individualsâ health and their productivity, due to a decreased rate of workplace absences.
Today many employee assistance programs are being offered remotely as well â through phone calls and over the internet.
Other technology can make employeesâ lives easier â whether that is by making their jobs less frustrating or by helping them do more value-added tasks.
For example, the use of HR technology reduces manual data input and frustrating admin activities related to recruiting, hiring, documenting and retaining employees. As a result, it gives HR people more time to do the jobs they love: helping people get more out of their work.
Making Occupational Health A Priority
In challenging times, we know that ânormalâ is relative. However, as employees adjust to a new normal, ensuring employeesâ occupational health is looked after shouldnât just fall to HR leaders. Senior management has a responsibility to take care of employeesâ physical and mental health and so do employees themselves!
Get Exclusive Insights, Invites and More With Our Weekly HR Newsletter
Contact Us!
Not a Customer yet? Contact Sales.
Career at Personio
Download
© 2023 Personio SE & Co. KG


