B1 Managing Occupational Health Flashcards
Define occupational health
Give the meaning of occupational health
The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of mental, physical and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations by preventing departures from health, controlling risks and adapting work to people and people to their jobs.
What is Health
Health is the complete state of physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Categories of occupational health hazards
- Chemical = liquids, dusts, fibres, fumes, vapours and gases.
- Physical = Noise, vibration, radiation, cold, pressure and heat.
- Biological = Bacteria, fungal, virus and, insects endoparasites.
- Psyco social = Stress, substance misuse, violence , work pressure, monotony.
- Ergronomic = Posture, work place layout, RSI, illumination.
Key elements of managing sickness ( HSE guidance)
Recording sickness absence
Maintaining contact
Return to work interview
Making use of professional advice
Planning and undertaking work place adjustments
Agreeing and reviewing a return to work plan
Co ordinate the return to work process
Definition of disability under the equality act
A person is disabled if they have a “physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities”
What is the bio-physiosocial model?
The bio-physiosocial model is a way of considering ill health as being more than simply a case of biological disease.
It takes a more holistic view of ill health by including biological, psychological and social aspects into the condition.
- Biological refers to physical and mental health
- Psychological refers to personal factors such as beliefs, coping strategies.
- Social refers to the culture of a work place, society and relationships
What does SEQOHS stand for
S = Safe E = Effective Q = Quality O = Occupational H = Health S = Service
This is a set of standards and accreditation intended to raise the standards in the occupational health sector There are 6 general categories *Business probity *Information governance *People *Facilities and equipment *Relationship with purchasers *Relationship with workers
Benefits for employees of having access to occupational health
- Early signs of ill health identified
- Assurance to staff that they are valued
- Ability to raise concerns about health or the working environment
Definition of wellbeing
A state of being with others, where human needs are met, where one can act meaningfully to purpose ones goals and where one enjoys a satisfactory quality of life.
Sources of data used by HSE to compile ill health statistics
- RIDDOR - requires the reporting of specific occ diseases
- Labour force survey (LFS) national survey of private homes (source ONS)
- Death certificates- causes of death
- Industrial injury scheme- managed by DWP where persons have notified them to claim compensation/ disability
- The health and occupational reporting (THOR) - voluntary surveillance scheme
What is the bio-phychosocial model
The bio psychosocial model is a way of considering ill health as being more than a case of simple of biological disease.
It takes a more holistic view that includes
- Biological = physical or mental condition
- Social = culture of individual, workplace and societal interactions
- Psychologically aspects = beliefs, behaviour, emotions, coping strategies
Define what the equality act means by a disabled person.
A person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
Define vocational rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation is the process of whatever helps someone with a health problem stay at, return to or remain in work.
These Barriers may be biological, psychological or social (think bio-psychosocial model)
Principles
- The need for early intervention
- Good quality case management of those who need support
- importance of consideration of the bio-psychosocial model
Typical functions of occupational health
- Pre employment screening- general health assessment of both health and specific job fitness
- Health surveillance - routine checkups or specific tests as a result to exposure to specific hazards
- Return to work- rehabilitation
- Sickness management - recording and analysis of absence, involvement in absence procedures
- Counselling- formal and informal.
- Risk assessments - contribution to general or health specific ( ie pregnant workers)
- Health education and promotion
- Health specific advice to employers and employees
- Treatment- first aid and its provision of
Occupations requiring specific fitness standards
Vehicle driving (FLT, HGV, busses, trains) Working with dangerous machines Emergency service workers Working at heights Working in confined spaces Divers Night shift working