WORKING FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE

IOM Consulting Limited. London . UK www.iom-world.org

Occupational Health Services – An Introduction

Dr James Preston MFOM

Accredited Specialist in Occupational Medicine

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Areas to Cover

• Occupational Health• Introduction• Basic functions• Referrals and case management

• Stress definition and consequences• Occupational health and stress• Breakout groups – discussion and summing up

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What is occupational health

• Industrial medicine• Work on health• Health on work• Independent• Proactive and reactive elements

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Work on health

Work-related issues

• Occupational asthma and dermatitis• Hand arm vibration syndrome• Musculoskeletal symptoms• Stress!

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Work on Health

Preventing and reducing (negative) impact of work on health

• Health promotion• Risk assessment contribution• Ergonomics/DSE • Health surveillance (noise/skin/resp/HAVS)• Fitness for work• Health and safety policy/steering groups

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Health on Work

• Pre-employment assessment• Fitness for specific tasks (eg safety critical)• Management referral

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Ethical and Good Practice

• Independent• Confidential• Report writing - GMC• Consent

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Management referral - interaction

• Informal discussion (business partner +/- OH)• Take time over referral form completion• Report• Background• Current Position• Specific Questions• Summary and Recommendations

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Recommendations

• Advice not compulsory• DDA• (Reasonable) adjustments

• Fitness for work• Measures for early return and/or rehabilitation

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Definition of Stress

• "The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work."

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It is not

• A medical condition

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Manifestations

• Feeling of being overwhelmed• Loss of productivity• Pre-occupation • Loss of confidence• Concern• Irritability• Distress

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Stress and productivity/performance

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Distress leading to health issues

• Hazard in the workplace• Anxiety• Mild to moderate depression• Compound other mental health conditions• Blamed rightly or wrongly for physical conditions (onset

or worsening)• Alcohol intake• Drug use• Other compulsive behaviours

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Addressing Stress

• Match resources to requirements• Regard stress as a hazard to health• Risk assess• Control risk• Review• Education and training• Record what you have done

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Management Standards areas

• Demands• Control• Support• Relationships• Role• Change

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Outcomes

• Targeted policies (performance management and goal setting; bullying harassment; reporting concerns; drug and alcohol…)

• Review existing policies• Policy awareness• Line manager training• Job analysis/design• Risk assessments • Communication and training

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Individual case management

• Occupational health function

• Avoiding medicalisation• Solutions not always medical• Usually fit to attend OH/management

meeting/hearings/tribunals• Balance lies with resolution as the priority

• Consider mediation• Counselling

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Case studies

• Break out groups and discussion