What Are Occupational Health Assessments?

· 4th September 2022

What Is Occupational Health?

As the name suggests, occupational health (OH) covers the health and well-being of employees. A warehouse, factory, office or on the road – it doesn’t matter where the workplace is. Occupational health is the umbrella term for the field that focuses on the connection between work and health. 

OH services help to create a productive and safe working environment for both employers and their staff. They are there to make sure an employee’s job role is not compromising their physical or mental health, therefore helping to prevent people from getting any injuries or diseases that are caused by their line of work. Getting OH involved at an early stage can help prevent the onset of work-related illnesses which can positively impact motivation levels and productivity at work. 

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What Are Occupational Health Assessments?

An occupational health assessment delves into an employee’s health with regard to their job role. Whether an employee has been absent from work for a long period of time, or they are making a return and their fitness to work needs to be checked, there are several assessments to choose from that can be tailored to the different requirements of each individual.

It’s worth noting that early intervention by an OH expert can go a long way in helping to deliver positive results before any health concerns escalate, so the sooner they become involved, the better. 

Prior to the assessment being carried out, it’s worth noting that some employees might find the process of undergoing an examination rather intimidating. This can have a counterintuitive effect, so to avoid adding any stress, make sure the employee fully understands the entire process and that it isn’t for a clinical diagnosis, rather it is there to support them and their employer.

Once any concerns the employee might have have been dealt with, it is time to proceed.

 

Types of Occupational Health Assessments

Depending on the type of work the employee’s job role requires, there is a range of different occupational health assessments to choose from:

An OH practitioner can advise on the most suitable type of assessment for yourself or your employee so that the findings are relevant and drive positive change.

 

What Happens at an Occupational Health Assessment?

An occupational health assessment must be carried out sensitively and thoroughly. Performed by a qualified occupational health practitioner, the assessment will take into account the employee’s physical and mental health, their job role, and their medical history – all information discussed is completely confidential. 

Based on the findings, an occupational health report is then written summarising the employee’s current health and providing recommendations to the employer on what reasonable adjustments should be considered for a safe working environment. This report is then shared with both parties following consent from the employee. 

 

Who Needs an Occupational Health Assessment?

The beauty of occupational health assessments is that they can be tailored to suit the different wants and needs of employers and their staff. There are safety risks that need reviewing in most businesses and occupational health is there to make sure everyone is safe and protected during their working day. 

Perhaps you are an employer wanting to make sure that your workplace meets regulations. Maybe your employee has been off work for longer than usual and you want to manage their sickness absence. Or you need to assess an employee’s fitness to work as they make a return to the workplace. Some employees might be experiencing debilitating stress due to a heavy workload, or have injured themselves while at work which has seen them out of action for an undetermined amount of time. As an employer, you might be under the impression that you are protecting their health and well-being, but you can’t be fully confident of this until a detailed assessment has been conducted by a qualified professional. 

 

Are Occupational Health Assessments a Legal Requirement?

Employers have a legal responsibility and duty of care to support the health, safety and well-being of their employees. Occupational health plays an integral role in this, helping employers fulfil this obligation to the best of their ability. Although preventing ill-health in the workplace isn’t always possible, being proactive and addressing any concerns as they arise will go a long way in significantly reducing risks. 

When it comes to the legalities of an occupational health assessment, this typically depends on the type of work being carried out. For example, if an employee is exposed to fumes, excessive noise or hand-arm vibrations, an occupational health assessment must be carried out and any required safety measures implemented. 

 

How to Get an Occupational Health Assessment

When arranging an occupational health assessment, an employer must choose an experienced, competent OH provider to ensure all work is carried out in line with relevant occupational health and safety and employment laws. Recommendations, reviews and informative marketing material are all sources that employers can use to help make an informed decision during the selection process. Using a third party OH expert is recommended for this as they will provide an independent opinion. 

Once they have made their final choice, the employer must then submit their referral form to the occupational health provider so that they can progress with the assessment.  

At Healthier Workforce, our nationwide network of dedicated, qualified practitioners help boost the physical and mental health, safety and well-being of employees. No matter the sector, no matter the size of business, we have the experience and expertise to cater for your individual requirements. As a third party company, we remain completely impartial, offering recommendations and advice to help improve employees’ motivation, productivity and morale. 

A healthy, happy team is the driving force behind every successful business – simply contact us or complete a management referral form today to find out how this could be you.