Occupational health

Occupational health is a specialist branch of medicine focussing on health in the workplace. It is concerned with the physical and mental well-being of employees. Occupational health specialists can support organisations through advising on work-related illnesses and accidents, carrying out medicals for new starters and existing employees and monitoring the health of employees.

Occupational health services are also used to assist organisations in managing absence situations – both short and long term. The opinion of an occupational health specialist might be crucial in determining how to manage a capability issue, and the opinion of an occupational health specialist can be key evidence in a claim to an employment tribunal.

Only large organisations are likely to employ their own occupational health specialists. Most organisations will contact an external provider of occupational health services as and when they need it. In some organisations there will be an employed full time nurse who has training in occupational health. This might be supported by a part-time doctor who comes to the organisation to carry out medicals and other assessments. Other organisations, particularly those working in hazardous areas, are more likely to employ their own doctor.