Every company has a duty to care for the health and welfare of its staff, but it also makes sound business sense to ensure that employees are fit and well enough to carry out their duties. There is legislation in place that makes it mandatory for employers to protect the health and well-being of staff, but some businesses may need professional help to ensure that they meet the requirements.
According to the NHS website, more than 170 million days each year are lost due to sickness absence, and the longer employees are on sick leave, the less likely they are to return to work successfully. This is a problem for employers and makes the importance of focussing on occupational health very evident.
Major aims of occupational health
Occupational health focusses on preventing ill health that is work-related. This can include physical injuries such as back pain, certain cancers, eye strain, hearing loss and RSI as well as mental ill health like anxiety, depression or stress. OH also promotes the well-being of employees and ensures that any health-related risks in the workplace are managed properly. Work practices and the work environment are assessed so that adjustments can be made to meet the needs of individuals when necessary.
Accessing occupational health services
For occupational health Swindon and similar towns have professional occupational health consultants who can help employers to meet their obligations to their employees. There are benefits to both employers and staff when efficient occupational health practices are in place. For employers, one of the main benefits is the improved staff productivity that can be expected when staff members are healthy and content.
As far as employees are concerned, they are better off when the environment in which they work is safe and any risks are managed appropriately. Workplaces with well managed occupational health Swindon wide enable their staff to remain in employment for longer than risky establishments. This naturally has benefits for the employees in terms of finance, confidence and self-esteem.
Occupational health specialists who have a deeper understanding of different working environments can often help employers, especially in small businesses, to ensure that they are complying with health and safety legislation. This also has an impact on the business overall because staff will generally be happier and more productive.