Occupational Health

Question 1

What are aims of occupational health

Answer 1

Protect worker
Identify hazards
Encourage employer to take action
Investigate and manage work related disease

Question 2

Problems due to unemployment

Answer 2

Income
Self - respect
Increased risk of ill health
Psychosocial scar
Trans-generational 
Part of community
Purpose

Question 3

What does OH do

Answer 3

Independent and confidential 
Not part of NHS
Advise, support and sign post
Fitness to work
Equality act
Workplace adjustment

Question 4

What is equality act

Answer 4

Equal treatment regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual, age, relationship, religion
Employer has responsibility to make adjustment

Question 5

What is disability

Answer 5

Physical or mental impairment
Substantial and long term -ve effect
Automatic if HIV / cancer / MS
NOT addiction

Question 6

Ethics of seizure and driving

Answer 6

6 months seizure free can reapply
Epilepsy = 1st year or 3 years if only nocturnal
Need 10 years and off medication and neurologist says no risk for type 2 license

Question 7

What should you ask in occupational Hx

Answer 7

Normal day 
Hours - shift / early 
Responsibility / stress
Demands - physical / mental 
Type of environment
Travel 
Organisation - support / isolation etc
Ergonomic - posture / equipment 
Length of service
Any other jobs
Anyone else have problem
Does it get better away 
Pension / union arrangment
Pay status

Question 8

What is hazard

Answer 8

Intrinsic potential for harm

Question 9

Types of hazard

Answer 9

Physical - radiation / manual handling / vibration / noise
Chemical - gas / liquids / mist
Biological - bacteria / virus / fungi
Psychological - pressure / bullying

Question 10

What is risk

Answer 10

Likelihood of harm occurring

Question 11

What is clinical approach to work disease

Answer 11

Standard medical investigations

Question 12

What is workplace approach

Answer 12

Assessment of place of employment - hazard / risk / failure for control measures
Action needed

Question 13

What is epidemiological approach

Answer 13

Study to decide if it was due to work

Question 14

What is prevention

Answer 14

Appropriate control measures
Elimination of harm substance or substitute
PPE
Training etc

Question 15

What is Health and Safety at Work Act

Answer 15

Legislation enforced by inspectors or local authority

Question 16

If occupational disease what do you do

Answer 16

Doctors inform HSE through EMAS

Question 17

Where can you get compensation

Answer 17

Industrial injuries benefit - state

Civil litigation - employer

Question 18

What is role of OH in sickness absence

Answer 18

Protect patient
Prevent abuse
Provide independent advise to keep patients in productive work

Question 19

What does fit note ask

Answer 19

Are they fit for work
Are they fit for work with adjustments
Are they not fit for work

Question 20

What is rehab

Answer 20

Reintroduction of people to job after illness or injury
Facilitate return
Assessment of physical and mental capacities of individual of demands

Question 21

What is required for ill-health requirement

Answer 21

Doctor to certify no longer able to work

Question 22

What do patients get

Answer 22

May have own pension scene so benefit paid until normal retiring age

Question 23

What are other benefits if due to industrial injury

Answer 23

Social security
Statutory sick pay
Incapacity benefit
Disability living allowance
Personal independence payment

Question 24

What is pre-employment assessment / medical assessment

Answer 24

May be legal in some occupation

Question 25

What is an accident at work

Answer 25

Unplanned event resulting in loss or damage to people, plant or property
Must be reported if cause +7 days off

Question 26

Ethics of OH

Answer 26

Responsibility it to patient
Normal confidently apply
Need consent to tell employer
Doctor may have over-riding duty to protect public e.g. driver with blackouts