Every year, millions of people in the United Kingdom become unwell as a result of their jobs. More than half of this is due to musculoskeletal disorders such as back discomfort. Every year, more than 500,000 people are affected by stress. The majority of these diseases are simply preventable. OHS stands for occupational health and safety.
Every employer is required to offer a safe workplace and to analyse risk on the job. There is a slew of health, safety, and welfare laws that mandate such action. Many employers believe that having a safety policy and a health and safety officer satisfies their legal obligations. However, no single person could have the appropriate combination of talents to deliver the type of service mandated by law. Employees have a right to be protected against working risks. Employers must take precautions to ensure that their employees are aware of the risks.
The importance of occupational health, the kind of services supplied, and the manner in which they are provided should all be viewed as negotiation issues in the same way that any other service conditions are.
Workplace occupational health and safety should never be overlooked. Using occupational health services can result in significant cost savings due to enhanced productivity and decreased sickness-related absenteeism. You are considerably more likely to keep valuable employees and develop a strong employer brand if you promote their health and well-being.
Occupational health is a subspecialty of medicine that focuses on the physical and mental health, as well as the overall well-being, of your employees at work. An employer can provide an occupational health programme in-house or outsource it to an external occupational health provider.
The nature and scope of any occupational health programme will often be determined by the size of the company or organisation. It can be offered by an occupational health-trained nurse and a part-time doctor, or by a variety of professionals such as physiotherapists, hygienists, psychologists, ergonomic experts, occupational therapists, or specialist occupational health workers.
