Occupational Medicine Braga: frequently asked questions

2023-07-24

Occupational medicine: what is it for?

Occupational medicine activities are designed to protect workers’ health, prevent occupational diseases and accidents, control occupational risks and enable workers to access occupational health services more broadly.

These consultations are essential for workers, companies and society; in any modern, evolved organization, all actions and interventions aimed at promoting the health and well-being of workers have a direct effect on efficiency and productivity at work, with unquestionable repercussions for society in general.

What are the advantages for companies?

– Contributes to increase:

Profit;
Productivity;
Competitiveness;
Quality

– It promotes social responsibility and the long-term sustainable development of the company.

– It promotes positive results in the health and well-being of workers and, consequently, in their motivation.

– It helps to reduce absenteeism due to illness or accidents at work, as well as other situations of dissatisfaction that lead to absence from work.

– It boosts the company’s image in a positive way and is an important label for attracting new talent to the organization.

– It increases customer satisfaction, because satisfied employees with a sense of well-being are better at captivating and nurturing relationships.

Are all companies obliged to carry out occupational health consultations?

Yes.
According to Portuguese legislation, it is compulsory for all types of private companies and state institutions.

The employer has to guarantee health surveillance for all workers, on a scheduled basis, annually for workers in risky activities or over the age of 50, or every two years for other workers; they can also request this assessment in occasional situations, as provided for by law, always on a certain date and in a certain context.

Which doctors are qualified to carry out these consultations?

Doctors specializing in Occupational Medicine and Doctors in training to obtain the Specialist degree, authorized by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) to carry out the activity.

An organized occupational health service will certainly involve other health professionals: nurses, nutritionists, psychologists, physiotherapists, exercise phys iologists, etc.

What are the worker’s obligations with regard to occupational medicine consultations?

The employee has a duty to cooperate.
The employee’s consent is tacitly accepted for complementary tests such as Optometry, Audiometry, Spirometry or ECG, but for certain tests or analytical samples, for example, the employee cannot be forced to carry them out without their consent.

Can the employee be sanctioned if they miss these appointments?

Theoretically, yes.
Occupational medicine is a right and an asset for the worker; however, for the mission of Occupational Health services to be fulfilled, the support and collaboration of the company and the worker as a whole is essential, in an idea of collective collaboration, in order to seek an overall benefit and not just an individual one.

What happens during an occupational medicine consultation?

It has the same structure as all other medical consultations, with the collection of individual data in the Clinical History and Objective Examination, but work-related questions are predominant in this context.
The clinical assessment is more associated with signs, symptoms and diseases with early identification, looking for a direct or indirect relationship with the risk factors linked to the individual’s professional activity.

What tests are frequently ordered?

All those that control biological indicators related to the effects of occupational risk factors.

For example, if the worker is in a noisy environment, an audiogram is useful; if they spend all day in front of a computer, they should have their eyesight assessed; an electrocardiogram is recommended in professions where the cardiorespiratory apparatus may be overloaded or where there are increased risk factors.

Are these tests prescribed by the occupational medicine doctor or subsequently requested by the family doctor?

No.
Occupational health examinations and analyses are the responsibility of the employer and not the National Health System (SNS).
All the services associated with this activity are free of charge for the worker, and parallels can be drawn with the context of occupational accident insurance.
However, for non-work-related illnesses, occupational doctors liaise with family doctors and hospital specialty doctors whenever necessary.

What are the different types of consultation available to workers?

Entrance Exam

It takes place before the start of work or, if the urgency of the hiring justifies it, within the following 15 days.

Periodic Examination

This is a consultation every two years for workers between the ages of 18 and 50 who do not carry out risky activities; it is annual above this age or if there are risk situations defined by law or collective bargaining agreement.

Occasional examination

This type of consultation is compulsory after returning from 30 days’ sick leave or other absence (maternity leave, for example), following an accident at work, at the request of the employee or the department, or even due to a change in working conditions.

SEPRI MT works in the area of occupational health, by including and promoting key tools that enable you to offer your employees a better quality of life in the workplace.
After an initial diagnosis of the organizations, we draw up and implement a health and safety action plan focused on the needs of your employees and your company.

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