Occupational Health Awareness Week 18th to 23rd September 2023
Occupational Health – Bringing OH Support To Small Business
In high income countries, such as the UK, improvements in occupational health and safety are seen as one of the ten biggest public health achievements of recent times. Improvements in work accidents and reduction in industrial disease are well documented. Most of the world’s population spend one third of their adult life at work, making the workplace a compelling setting to promote the health of employees during and beyond working life. In a broad sense the health gains of occupational health interventions originate in the protection of workers and prevention and reduction of work-related ill health, detection of disease and the health benefits of return to work. There are benefits from health promotion and lifestyle changes, smoking cessation, heart health and healthy eating. In addition to benefits to physical health there are benefits to mental and psychological health, to improve on stress, anxiety and depression.
Occupational Health Assessment In the UK: An OH Consultation
In July the government launched a consultation Occupational Health: Working Better with general agreement that quality occupational health services have the potential to prevent people falling out of work due to sickness absence, support business productivity and to prevent pressures on the NHS due to work related disease and ill health. However, occupational health coverage across the UK is roughly 45% of workers which is lower than international comparators. Whilst occupational health needs to scale up, the quality of service should be assured, and OH should be leveraged for health promotion and prevention, in addressing the social determinants of health. A worrying trend in the UK is that long term sickness absence is the most common reason given by working age people who have given up work and economic inactivity and this now stands at 2.55 million. The consultation is looking at viable ways in which access to occupational health can be improved across the UK and with small business very much In mind. Small business need access to timely advice for those employees on long term sick leave and access to local services.
So currently what services do Sarsen Health provide to our local community?
As a team of registered health professionals and occupational health specialists we provide a wide range of advice to employers including:
- Targeted health assessments for those involved in safety critical work
- Health Assessments aimed at achieving statutory compliance for those exposed to physical hazards at work.
- Health assessments aimed at providing advice to employers on fitness for work, reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, Disability Section (2010).
- Help with risk assessments and policy production
- Health assessments to determine fitness for work for those with a variety of mental health problems
Sarsen health has contributed to the government consultation Occupational Health – Working Better in order to participate in a program which aims to provide improved access to all businesses to advice and support to prevent long term sickness absence.
If you require health assessments for your employees, or would like to talk about your requirements, get in touch today.