Читать книгу Occupational Health Law - Diana Kloss - Страница 24

Occupational medicine is a branch of preventive medicine with some therapeutic functions.

Occupational health (OH) professionals have dual responsibilities: to employers and employees.

OH services in the UK are not provided free of charge through the NHS: the employer must pay. Less than half of the working population has access to OH advice and support.

There is no legal obligation on an employer to provide OH services, other than basic first aid and statutory health surveillance where employees are exposed to particular hazards, for example substances hazardous to health, vibration and noise.

Work‐related ill‐health is a major burden on the economy and the provision of OH services has been proved to be cost effective.

Research has shown that good work is good for health and that being out of work is damaging to health.

General practitioners in the NHS are encouraged to suggest adjustments to work and the workplace in the fit note, which is required for the payment of Statutory Sick Pay, in order to support an early return to work if that is practicable.

A system of accreditation of OH services, SEQOHS (Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Services) has been created and OH services in the NHS are required to apply for accreditation through the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.