The prime role of the OH service is to provide professional medical advice and guidance to managers about:

The impact of an employee’s health on their ability to do their job; plus the measures that can be put in place to assist an employee to meet the requirements of the job.

The Occupational Health practitioner works alongside colleagues in Personnel and Pensions to offer the medical perspective on employment issues. They also advise individuals who have been referred how to manage their health at work.

You will be sent a detailed report when we have seen an employee, updating you on their progress and recommending, for example, a phased return to work if appropriate, or recommending further risk assessments which may need to be carried out.

The report will not contain any confidential medical information, but will answer any specific questions that are on the referral form. Information provided should help you manage the situation effectively.

We offer either a ‘paper screening’ of a questionnaire (subject to your requirements), or full medical comprising of an audio, lung function test, height, weight, BMI, blood pressure and drugs and alcohol screening. Please see standard medicals section.

At pre-employment health assessment, the primary responsibility of the Occupational Health consultant is to the employer.

The pre-employment medical will provide a documented record of the state of the employee’s health on entering the company.  It will also identify any illnesses, both physical and psychological, that may affect the prospective employee’s ability to do the job and helps to highlight conditions that are covered under the DDA.  This will allow you to protect your employees from situations that may cause harm.  The record can also assist in countering any would be ill health claims subsequently made by the employee

The control of absence from work is a management responsibility. The role of the OH consultant is to provide the medical advice necessary to enable the employer to make sound judgements based on impartial, evidence based medical advice.

Sickness Absence Management. It is recognised that early assessment, diagnosis and medical intervention aids early return-to-work. We offer advice on:

• DDA - Disability Discrimination Act (1995)
• Employee Rehabilitation
• Return-to-Work Programmes
• Assessing employee’s capability to perform the job
• Ill health retirement

Medical assessment is always good practice for drivers and those working with mechanical equipment or at height.

Our standard medical includes audio test, lung function test, keystone eye test, height, weight, blood pressure and Body Mass Index, and urinalysis. Drugs and alcohol screening at pre-employment.

Our Safety Critical Statutory assessments are for Plant operators, Dock Regulations, FLT, Crane drivers, Construction workers, Working at height, Confined Space,

HGV drivers, ENG1 and ML5 Seafarers (OH Physician available).

Legally Compliant Health Surveillance

Employee medical surveillance or health monitoring takes many forms and is influenced by many different factors.  It can:

Be driven by HSE guidelines, COSHH regulations or other Statutory requirements.   For instance, individuals exposed to skin irritants, fumes/dust, noise above 80decibels, lead, asbestos, or other potentially health damaging substances require varying degrees of health surveillance. 

For example:

· Spirometry or Lung Function Testing
· Hearing Tests (Audiometry)
· Skin Surveillance
· Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) —(White Finger)
· Blood Tests (i.e. for lead exposure)
· Asbestos exposure monitoring

We can attend your site and complete a full risk assessment on those members of staff that you have identified as users or operators under the DSE regulations. 

Using an OH Specialist Practitioner is particularly useful for those people who are already complaining about a health problem related to using a computer (whether it is a back ache or upper limb problem), because they are able to explore the medical side of any issues and therefore can offer a fully considered answer with appropriate medical advice.

An assessment would include:

· One to one evaluation of each workstation.
· Detailed questioning of the user.
· Posture and interface with DSE.
· General ergonomic setup.
· Exploration of general well being & medical issues including any existing musculoskeletal disorders.
· Comprehensive review of  Chair, Screen, Lighting, Mouse, Keyboard, Desk and Environment.
· Basic DSE user advice and training i.e. chair, posture etc.
· Issue a summary report and recommendations to Management.

We can provide your Company with a policy and carry out testing according to your Company’s requirements.

As part of a general employee welfare service, employees can be offered a periodic voluntary health check (blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, eyesight check, etc….) which would allow them to discuss lifestyle issues with the OH practitioner.

There are a million and one ways of delivering health promotion, so please contact us today and together we can work out what the most appropriate approach is for you and your company.

Vaccinations can be offered subject to your service requirements excluding holiday vaccinations.

· Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment
· Night Workers Health Checks
· Manual Handling Risk Assessment
· Stress Risk Assessment and advice to Managers
· Presentations based on Company requirements
· Occupational Health Audits