What is occupational health?

A definition of occupational health

Occupational health, also referred to as occupational health and safety (OHS), is not always easy to grasp. It refers to the conditions that employees are allowed to work in but is also an area of work that promotes and maintains wellbeing for workers in all sectors. The topics it covers are wide. We have selected some examples of these topics for your below:

• Stress in the workplace
• Environmental health
• Violence in the workplace
• Safety regulations
• Healthy workforce
• Pre-employment health assessments
• Prevention of health risks
• Advice on ergonomic issues
• Workplace design

The objective is for employers to ensure that their employees are safe, evolve in a healthy work environment and follow safety procedures and guidelines. Occupational health and safety is regulated both nationally and internationally.

A snapshot of help provided by occupational health

In the section below, we provide examples of assistance that employers might want to use when it comes to occupational health:

• To make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities, ensuring they can deliver their work
• For employees who have been on long-term sick leave
• For employees who are returning from long-term sick leave or absences
• To control risks to mental health, manage stress at work and prohibit harassment
• To stay compliant with the health and safety regulations in place
• To support employees who might be struggling with physical or mental health challenges

Some businesses have their own occupational health service, others use external agencies. Internally, occupational health teams can develop a number of solutions designed to meet the specific needs of the business when it comes to health and safety at work. As such, they can:  

• reduce sickness absence;
• anticipate health risks in the workplace and remove them;
• ensure the organisation meets statutory responsibilities;
• maintain a healthy workforce;
• install surveillance solutions if and when early stages of ill health arise;
• provide health screenings;
• diagnose and advise employees who are unable to work due to short- or long-term health challenges;
• promote healthy lifestyles;
• encourage wellbeing at work.

For more information on occupational health, check the ACAS website. 

ACAS is the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. It is an independent public body and aims to provide employers and employees with free and impartial advice on their workplace rights and practices.

The benefits of occupational health for your business and your employees

Occupational health is considered to be the field of medicine that deals with the prevention and treatment of workplace illness or injuries. It has many benefits for employers, and it is important to promote it in the workplace to help reduce accidents and promote wellbeing. In the section below, we highlight some of the benefits of occupational health for your business:

It reduces the risks of injuries or accidents

The main benefit of occupational health is that it reduces the risk of accidents at work. The implementation of measures prevents injuries from happening.

It increases compliance with health and safety regulations

Having regulations and making sure that the workforce is aware of them will reduce potential risks. When employees are made aware of regulations and the reasons that they are in place, compliance increases, thus improving safety.

It contributes to improving employee productivity

Productivity is a focus for most businesses. It has been proven that occupational health has a direct influence on productivity. When staff feel safe and evolve in a healthy environment, they are more focussed and efficient in their jobs. 

It may lower healthcare costs

As injuries are reduced, the costs associated with healthcare are lower.

It encourages a healthier workforce

Having healthy staff is a huge benefit for companies. Occupational health has a direct impact on the health of employees.

It is embedded in the company culture and affects the organisation’s image

The image of the company is hugely important. It influences sales, recruitment, retention rates and much more. Beyond the image, the company culture should promote a healthy work environment and care for people. Investing in occupational health will improve this image and will have a positive impact on the company culture.

It results in reduced absenteeism

Absenteeism is an issue faced by many organisations. It may be the result of personal issues or sickness. Absenteeism generates costs to the business and may cause disruptions in the services delivered. It has an impact on all the workforce as other employees may have to compensate and may see their workload increase.

It positively influences employee morale

Occupational health has a positive impact on employee morale. It demonstrates that the business cares for its people. Employees feel recognised, valued and cared for through the safety measures implemented.

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of the benefits of occupational health and safety. There are many more direct and indirect benefits, and we highly recommend businesses stay aware of updates in this field. For more information on this topic, check our simple guide to health and safety at work, including COVID-19 specifics.

Tips to ensure health and safety

Being aware of potential hazards is critical. There are many ways for businesses to encourage safety at work. The tips below should set businesses on track to protect their employees and create a safe working environment.

Create, implement and communicate a policy on health and safety at work

Businesses should conduct regular audits on health and safety at work to ensure they are anticipating and addressing potential hazards. They can also deliver occupational health assessments. For more on company policies, check our 6 policies to consider for your business.

Educate teams on safe working practices and enforce them

Providing training to employees and delivering guidance on health and safety measures will prevent issues and injuries.

Reward employees who are compliant with safety procedures through incentives

Creating an incentive program on health and safety will demonstrate its weight, thus increasing the adherence to regulations and guidance.

Ensure the workforce stays aware and informed

Being aware is essential. The type of awareness and level of vigilance required will depend on the job and its nature. Being attentive to surroundings, even if it’s simply to body posture during the workday will have positive impact in the long run.

Be aware of the appropriate body posture and encourage it

Having the appropriate body posture will avoid a lot of hassle. Through this simple self-awareness exercise, employees will avoid injuries. Employers should also encourage regular breaks to ensure that employees do not experience exhaustion due to their tasks.

Provide training on the appropriate use of equipment

When operating machinery, it is essential that workers are aware of the risks. They should be trained adequately and should be aware of the dos and don’ts of the piece of equipment they are using.

Ensure employees are aware of emergency exits

This might sound obvious but is nonetheless important. Knowing where emergency exits are located is crucial.

Encourage reports of safety concerns and communication flow

Employees should feel free to communicate any risk they identify. In fact, they should be encouraged to communicate hazards and report them immediately to their leader for action. Check our tips for business communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conduct regular housekeeping

Having a clean and organised workplace will avoid hazards. Employers should encourage their staff to maintain their workstation clean and clear of any obstacles.

Ensure you create a healthy work environment where stress is reduced

Stress and anxiety at work are not uncommon. They may result in difficulties concentrating or even in depression or burnout . Employers should keep an open ear and encourage their employees to communicate any stress-related issue. They should also act upon these issues and aim to resolve them. These challenges can be conflicts with colleagues, heavy workloads, long hours, lack of recognition, toxic work environment and much more. Here is more content on how to tackle toxic work environments.

Ensure the use of safety equipment when required

Some jobs will require safety equipment. This equipment can range from safety shoes to first aid kits or gloves to protect from toxic substances. The employer should provide this equipment to protect their employees.  

Occupational health is extremely valuable for your business. We highly recommend that employers conduct occupational health assessments on a regular basis to ensure that they continuously improve safety in the workplace.