Occupational health will touch nearly every working person at some point in their lives. Companies in industries ranging from manufacturing to retail to office environments are ramping up their focus on employee health and well-being and adding staff to their occupational health departments to support these efforts.
The forecast for the field of occupational health anticipates growth. Employment opportunities for occupational health and safety specialists in the United States are projected to grow 14% over the next decade, and occupational health market spending is expected to grow by 3.4% in the next five years.
With more emphasis on safety, mental health interventions, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and cost savings, occupational health’s role in the modern workforce will be essential to both workers and employers. Here’s what you need to know about the field.
What Is Occupational Health?
Occupational health is a form of public health that aims to promote and maintain the health of workers and employees. Occupational health teams advocate for employees’ health, monitor safety practices and mitigate risks, treat injuries that occur while at work, and provide education for maintaining a safe working environment.
Occupational health responsibilities can be wide-ranging depending on the type of employer, tasks common on the work site, and established health and support systems within the organization. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational health workers needed to consider who was at risk, if the workplace was safe, and when employees could and should return to work. Risk assessments and making suggestions for new policies related to the novel situation were the primary responsibilities of occupational health teams.
Roles and expectations for occupational health nurses, technicians, and doctors can vary widely, but in the United States, employers are tasked with maintaining and protecting their employees’ physical, social, and mental health, and occupational health departments manage this responsibility. As such, most people will interact with occupational health at some point in their working lives.
Legal Requirements and OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established by Congress in 1971 as a federal body responsible for worker health. At that time, OSHA established the standards for health and safety regulations, reporting procedures, employer responsibilities, and the Training Institute to enforce and monitor these standards.
While the standards have been updated and expanded in the half-century since then, the department still focuses on providing the safest environment for employees in all industries. OSHA has detailed regulations concerning the use of toxic materials such as asbestos, providing safe drinking water, and sanitation standards. OSHA performs inspections and offers training and consultation to employers to ensure compliance and to adequately protect employees.
The World Health Organization has also developed standards for employers worldwide to prioritize occupational health programs that prevent and control workplace-related diseases and injuries. One goal globally is to improve the working conditions of all people and give them access to recourse when injured while performing work tasks.
Most people are familiar with the terms “occupational health,” “OSHA training,” and “inspections,” even if just from the news. Depending on their industry, they may have close contact with occupational health teams. Those with physically demanding jobs who may be exposed to hazardous materials or have high stress levels may consult with occupational health regularly.
Most employees should be aware that, as occupational health teams are health care providers working on behalf of their employer, they only have a limited amount of confidentiality when consulting with occupational health. The goal is to maintain their health and return them to their role as soon as possible, usually due to injury or mental health concerns, though, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, this can also be due to public health measures. As such, employers will be privy to the progress of occupational health sessions and evaluations.
It is also clear that occupational health abilities are limited to screenings, physical therapy, counseling, and advocating for modified duties. A specialist external to the company will then provide more extensive health services after a referral from occupational health.
Areas of Concern for Occupational Health
Occupational health for a company will be individualized for the risks associated with that industry and the most common needs of employees. The types of risks to workers greatly depend on the environment and type of role. There are six primary areas where occupational health focuses, including:
- Physical Hazards. From working on a construction crew dozens of stories above ground to laboring in a warehouse that is not climate-controlled, occupational health will recognize areas of physical risk and make suggestions for mitigating that risk as much as possible. This can also include passive hazards, like noise injuries and radiation.
- Biological Hazards. While biological hazards are most common in medical and physical labor settings where employees are exposed to bodily fluids such as sweat and blood, they also encompass plants, mold, and animal products. Workers should have access to gloves, masks, and other personal protective equipment to shield themselves from biological hazards.
- Chemical Hazards. Chemical hazards come in a wide variety of mediums. Liquids like paints, solvents, and cleaning products can cause health issues following exposure. Gasses and fumes remain after activities like painting or welding, and incidents can include accidental exposure to substances like carbon monoxide. Dust can irritate breathing passages, and substances like asbestos have dangerous dust particles. Chemicals can increase the risks of fire and explosion in any setting.
- Ergonomic Hazards. This is not an area that comes to mind often, but with the increasing number of sedentary employees, posture becomes essential to maintaining health. Repetitive tasks such as typing and factory work can also cause health concerns.
- Safety Hazards. This includes everything from the constant presence of dangerous machinery to the one-time occurrence of spilled liquid on a floor. Employers are responsible for installing safety equipment like harnesses and helmets, inspecting electrical and machine installations for correct wiring, and properly training all workers to use equipment appropriately.
- Work Organization Hazards. Systemic issues within an organization can often cause undue stress on workers. This is the newest area of focus for occupational health. Still, with the wider societal focus on mental health, discrimination, stress, and negative work culture, they are high priorities for teams.
When Are Employees Referred to Occupational Health?
Employees can go to occupational health of their own accord for concerns or requests, or a supervisor or advocate can refer them. These can be one-time assessments and consultations or ongoing services. Some of the most common reasons workers are referred to occupational health include:
- Frequent illnesses
- Returning from a long-term illness or absence
- Disability or underlying health concern
- Difficulty adjusting to the work environment, especially after an injury or long absence
- Injury
- The work environment is causing frequent or long-term absences
- Deterioration in physical or mental health
- Accommodations are requested or needed
- A concern from management about their performance
What an Employee Should Expect to Encounter
Once an employee is referred or self-referred to occupational health, they will be scheduled for an assessment to start treatments and planning. Occupational nurses, physicians, industrial hygienists, safety professionals, psychologists, and medical surveillance are all possible roles within occupational health that will assess and treat those who need services.
At the initial appointment with occupational health, employees should expect the following:
- A review of their medical history
- A review of lifestyle factors that may affect health
- Discussion of your job role and the associated physical, mental, and social expectations
- Review of the current situation and how the job is affecting your health
- Review of any information or performance evaluations managers have provided
- A physical exam
- Review of any attempts that have been made to improve the situation
- Brainstorm ideas for accommodations that would make the role more tenable
- Assessment of whether or not a referral to additional services is needed
- Drug testing, particularly for a pre-employment screening
Following this initial assessment, the occupational health team will create a report for the patient and the company. This will include suggestions for further treatment, suitable work environments, and accommodations that can be made either temporarily or permanently to improve the employee’s health and overall success at work. In some cases, the employee may be referred to an outside facility for more treatment or services.
How Occupational Health Impacts Companies
These individual interactions with employees are an essential part of occupational health, as teams track the well-being of each worker. Occupational health also plays a vital role in the company’s culture, policies, and priorities on a macro level. Some of the initiatives occupational health will take on to improve the business include:
- Inspections. Tracking the wear and tear on equipment, instruments, and tools to ensure they work correctly and do not pose unnecessary risks.
- Training and Education. Whether employees need to be trained on the equipment they will be using or attend annual safety sessions, occupational health manages the training and educational programs for employees. This can also include training for CPR, first aid, stress management, AEDs, and more.
- Filling the gap for a lack of local health services. Particularly in rural areas, occupational health can offer employees services they have difficulty accessing in the community. Employers can provide workers with vaccines, health screenings, vision and hearing exams, blood pressure monitoring, and stress management techniques.
- Policy creation. Occupational health team members should be involved in updating company policies about safety and wellness. They advocate for employee well-being, initiate programs that foster wellness in the workplace, advise supervisors on the needs of their workforce, and improve the business’s culture.
The Benefits of an Occupational Health Department
The benefits of maintaining a robust occupational health department seem obvious for manufacturing companies, construction businesses, and other work environments that are inherently dangerous, especially as they must make sure they comply with OSHA regulations and inspections. In reality, pretty much any company can benefit from having an occupational health team. According to research, companies with occupational health nurses, doctors, or therapists experience benefits like:
- Improved employee morale
- Reduced extended absences
- Quick access to emergency care
- Early intervention to prevent or mitigate possible health crises
- Increased efficiency of the workforce
- Fewer penalties for OSHA violations
- Cost savings associated with illness and injury
Occupational health benefits everyone within a company, whether they are an employee, the business owner, or a healthcare worker. Most people will come into contact with occupational health at some point during their working years and reap the benefits of this investment in their physical, mental, and social health.
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