Occupational health services are a special kind of service that promotes the highest possible standards of health and safety in the workplace. They are responsible for identifying potential health risks and providing advice on preventative and control measures. They are also tasked with providing first aid for workers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines occupational health as "the promotion of physical and mental well-being through conditions at work that are conducive to the prevention and treatment of ill-health." This definition promotes the concept of preventive health care, which is a vital function of the occupational health service. These programs provide educational materials and resources to enhance the working environment and increase the awareness of employees about safety and health issues.
In addition to its preventive role, the occupational health service is a vital part of an enterprise's productive apparatus. It provides workers with advice on safe work practices and personal protective equipment. It also coordinates activities with other health and enterprise services. It helps maintain a healthy working atmosphere and facilitates rapid rehabilitation of injured workers. Besides, the occupational health service can help the enterprise adapt its activities to the changing needs of its workers. Find the right Workplace Wellness Program or check out these Meridian Occupational Services.
The ILO Occupational Health Services Convention stipulates that occupational health services should participate in progressive and continuing training, and in education and information programmes. In addition, occupational health professionals are encouraged to provide occupational health services to self-employed individuals. Some services are reimbursed by social security. These programs may also involve more comprehensive medical care. Typically, ambulatory treatment is provided by general practitioners. A worker's personal health data is usually forwarded to a personal physician with the worker's consent.
Occupational health services are also responsible for workplace surveillance. This means monitoring hazardous exposures and indicating priorities for control actions. They can also assess whether exposures are excessive. If they exceed established limits, the excess should be controlled. In addition, the quality of the workplace should be evaluated. This can be done by reviewing the type of production in the enterprise and determining the types of hazards that are typical for the activity. The analysis will also help to identify groups of workers that are at a higher risk of developing an illness. The accumulated information is then used for evaluation of engineering and other control measures. It can also be used for epidemiological surveys and revision of permissible exposure levels.
Traditionally, the primary responsibility of an occupational health service is the organization of first aid. However, new elements in national legislation emphasize the psychosocial aspect of the workplace. This is especially important when changes in the organization of work are planned. These include modifications to the working environment, the introduction of new equipment, and alterations in the layout of the workplace. In addition, the service should make appropriate arrangements for local emergency services and ambulance services. It is important to ensure that these arrangements are adequate and do not delay the healing of an injured worker. You can see more on this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-pBeS7ZWGY.