Occupational health (OH) is a multi-disciplinary approach to maintaining the wellbeing of those employed in a workplace, preventing and removing ill-health and developing solutions to keep staff with health issues at work. OH professionals provide independent advice on staff unable to work due to long-term or short-term intermittent health problems, and organisational wide steps to reduce sickness absence. They also:
- Assess fitness to work regarding ill-health capability dismissal or ill-health retirement
- Advise on compliance under the Equality Act 2010 (including disability, pregnancy and age discrimination) and temporary or permanent changes to the work or workplace ('reasonable adjustments')
- Carry out pre-employment or pre-placement health assessments
- Develop health and wellbeing related strategy and policies and can provide health advice to employees
Finally, they carry out statutory health surveillance (e.g. when workers may be exposed to hazardous substances or noise).
Click on the tabs below to find out more.
SOM publications, covering key guidelines and reports on Occupational and Workplace Health can be found in the SOM Publications Catalogue here.
Do sign up to our Mental Health at Work Consensus Statement here. There is also a section on the menopause for employers here and for healthcare professionals here.
We produce a quarterly magazine, which is a compilation of news, resources and event information for the wider OH community.
The Occupational Health Sector
OH is delivered across the UK, in the NHS, in the Military and in companies. There are several national commercial OH companies, as well as medium sized companies and many smaller providers. To find an OH company click here and to find an OH professional click here. Details about the OH workforce are here. There are many specific OH specialisms - find out more here. The OH market turnover is around £1bn. The SOM Commercial Providers group is currently advising the Government on an incentive for small business to use OH.
Are you an employer?
Research shows occupational health (OH) professionals help people stay in and return to work and live full and healthy lives. OH also helps employers to reduce sickness absence and increase productivity. If you are an employer and would like more information about OH, click the MORE INFO button below.
Are you a healthcare professional?
Occupational health professionals make a real difference to the health of workers. Research shows that good health is good for business and better workplaces have better financial results. If you are a healthcare professional and would like more information about OH, click the MORE INFO button below.