A Day in the Life of an Occupational Health Advisor

At Healthier Workforce, we are a strong believer in good communication and transparency to build trust with the businesses we work alongside. With this in mind, one of our team has documented what their role entails to give you an insight into what a day in the life of an occupational health advisor is really like… 

“The role of an Occupational Health Advisor (OHA) is often misunderstood, even by other medical professionals. The aim of the role is to look after the health of workers from the time they start their job, sometimes until after they leave. To do this, the OHA must have a good knowledge of the worker’s job role and an understanding of any medical conditions they may have so that safety can be maintained and no person or business is put at risk. The OHA is also required to ensure that businesses fulfil their legal requirements in relation to Health and Safety Law.” 

What are the qualification requirements to be an OHA? 

To work as an OHA, you must first be a trained nurse, and usually have an additional diploma or degree in Occupational Health (OH). Other nurses have worked in OH for such a long time that they will have the necessary skills and regular training updates (as every nurse has to undertake).

What does a typical day as an OHA look like?

No two days for an OHA are ever the same. Some days they can be working from home in the warm; other days, they may have to stay overnight prior to finding out the location they are required in for the day – this could be a small, dusty room in a cold factory. Fulfilling the role of an OHA means being ready for every occasion. Preparation is key and the schedule has usually been agreed with managers on site beforehand. 

Intervention from an OHA is determined by the result of a risk assessment which is usually carried out by a Health and Safety Officer (H&SO). For example, if a H&SO conducts a noise assessment that shows noise in a particular area is above that permitted by law, then as well as providing ear defenders, regular checks are carried out on employees’ hearing to make sure the measures in place are working and not causing any noise-induced hearing loss. 

If a day of health screening has been requested – which involves breathing, hearing and vision tests (to name a few) – then the equipment needs to have been calibrated with the previous year, must be readily available, and the OHA carrying out the testing needs to be competent in that area. Sometimes there can be a lot of equipment to take to a site which can involve several trips back and forth from the car, so it is always welcome if a member of staff offers assistance. 

The days start earlier than the clinic time, so the room can be set up in preparation and the OHA can meet the managers on site who are responsible for the health assessment days. A good rapport is important as it allows the OHA and managers to get to know and understand each others’ perspective.

Why is a health screening important?

Health screening is an important part of the job as it allows the OHA to talk openly with workers and offer any necessary advice; providing much more time to explain the reasoning behind this advice than a GP. Once workers know that whatever is said in the confines of occupational health is confidential, they tend to be much more open and welcoming to this advice. During this process, workers will also inform the OHA of any things that aren’t working on site, which can then be reported back to the managers, anonymously if necessary, so they are aware of areas of concern that may not have been evident to them. The results of the health screening are part of the business tool aspect of OH as it helps keep companies within the boundaries of health and safety legislation and, in some cases, also reduces their insurance premiums.

What does the role of an OHA entail?

Many people view occupational health as the ‘health police’ of the business as OHA’s are brought in to look at sickness absence, carrying out interviews with employees either by telephone, video link or in person to assess a worker’s health and how that matches with their job role. Again, employees are reassured when they know that the information they provide is private and can only be released with their permission. Every assessment that is carried out is with the intention of keeping that person in their role wherever possible – having a job is very beneficial for physical and mental health, allowing for structure in the day, not to mention a regular income. 

Most OHA’s have worked in numerous departments in a hospital before choosing to follow the path into occupational health, and this means they have a good understanding of most health issues they encounter on a daily basis. Managers do not have that health knowledge and are grateful for expert advice that allows them to work with employees who have health issues, providing adjustments as advised by OH where necessary. OHA’s are also able to signpost people for help in the community which has been particularly important during the pandemic to help address mental health problems. As an example of this, I arranged a place where a worker could meet with others to have his Christmas dinner as he was planning on spending it on his own with a pizza. Recognising the signs that someone might be struggling and opening up the lines of communication gives them the support they need to help improve their health and wellbeing.

​​So, in summary – yes, no two days are ever the same. But prioritising the physical and mental health of your employees is invaluable and we are dedicated to fulfilling that role. Now, I have to go as they are singing happy birthday to me on the factory floor!

Promote a positive working environment and pave the way for business success by getting in touch with our expert team today. Simply contact us via telephone or complete our management referral form today to learn more about how we can help you.