All employers have a duty of care to protect their staff’s health and wellbeing so they feel comfortable and safe at work, so it is in the best interests of all parties to organise an occupational health assessment for those that require it. This helps employers manage sickness absence at their workplace so they can benefit from a healthy, happy and motivated team.
Managers can’t be expected to know exactly what to do in every situation, which is why it’s important to enlist the help of an occupational health professional who will ensure the process is carried out correctly and in an impartial manner.
During an occupational health assessment, the OH professional will likely ask the employee about their health, any treatment they’re currently undergoing and any concerns they might have about their return to work. While this can seem like a daunting prospect for employees, it’s important that they understand this will not impact how they are treated at work; it is a confidential conversation with the primary goal of determining their ability to work and what measures can be put in place to make their working day a more manageable, comfortable one.
In some instances, the occupational health professional might need to get a bit more information regarding the employees health which requires input from their doctor. In this instance, the employee must be informed and will need to sign a consent form. Once the doctor’s report has been put together, it is within the employee’s rights to view it before it’s sent over to the OH professional.
We offer specialist support for those experiencing a wide range of work-related health issues, including:
An employer can utilise the recommendations from the OH assessment and doctor’s report to implement reasonable adjustments. For example, if an employee has been off work due to a back injury, they might need appropriate measures being put in place to make their return to work a comfortable and safe one.
This process also provides employers with access to employment law and managerial support that they can benefit from on an ongoing basis.
This process also provides employers with access to employment law and managerial support that they can benefit from on an ongoing basis.
Although it is not mandatory for an employee to undergo an occupational health assessment, it is to their benefit as they can get back to work as quickly as possible and receive the correct support they need once they’re there.
It’s worth noting that employees do have the right to refuse to attend an occupational health assessment. Communication is key here as in such cases, the employer must clearly outline how this refusal can impact their future employment at the business as the main goal of the assessment is to help, not hinder.
For an outcome that benefits all parties involved, communication is the most critical factor. Once the OH advisor has received confirmation from the employee that the report can be shared with their employer, they can then discuss the best course of action moving forward.
Depending on the work-related health issue, examples of the recommendations include:
- Reduced working hours / flexitime / remote working
- Reduced responsibilities
- Workplace and work environment adjustments, such as ergonomic furniture
- Referrals for counselling / therapy / rehabilitation
An OH assessment will provide further details into exactly what these recommendations mean and how they can be properly implemented.
This is especially important for key people in your organisation. By performing executive medicals, it demonstrates to your staff that you are committed to their future health and wellbeing. This proactive approach to health makes good business sense, as fostering and improving employee health will help create a healthy business.
We can offer comprehensive executive medical assessments for your key managers and executives. These can include:
- Lifestyle assessment and advice
- Spirometry (Lung Function Test)
- ECG
- Blood pressure and pulse
- Urinalysis
- Vision screening
- Body mass index (measurement of height, weight and calculation of BMI)
- Near distance and colour vision
- Blood analysis (various)
- Cholesterol (checking for risk of coronary heart disease)
- Blood sugar (check for diabetes)
