Did you know that occupational medicine is not only beneficial for workers, but also for companies?
Occupational Medicine is mandatory by law and applies to all sectors of activity, bringing advantages on many levels.
In this article, we explain how Occupational Health is beneficial to your company, who the Occupational Health team is made up of and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
What are the advantages of occupational medicine for companies?
Occupational Medicine contributes to
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Increase productivity, competitiveness, quality and profit;
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It promotes social responsibility and the long-term sustainable development of the company;
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It boosts the brand image in a positive way and is an important label for attracting new talent to the organization;
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It promotes positive results in the health and well-being of workers and, consequently, in their motivation;
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It helps to reduce absenteeism due to illness or accidents at work, as well as other situations of dissatisfaction that lead to absenteeism;
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Increasing customer satisfaction, because satisfied employees with a sense of well-being are able to improve interpersonal relationships.
Occupational Health Team: who is it made up of?
The occupational physician and the occupational nurse are the two essential elements of the occupational health team named in the legislation.
In SEPRI’s view, this team should be multidisciplinary, made up of clinicians from different backgrounds:
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Occupational Medicine;
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Occupational Nursing;
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Psychology;
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Nutrition;
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Physiotherapy;
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Others.
Simple and strict compliance with the legislation, which boils down to “just” issuing a fitness card, is being enriched with a more holistic vision, which includes multidisciplinary intervention in the prevention and promotion of physical and mental health.
Frequently asked questions about occupational medicine
What is Occupational Medicine 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.
How should the worker be notified of these appointments?
The procedure may vary from company to company, but it is usually up to human resources to inform the employee of this consultation.
The notice can be sent to the employee by email or text message.
What are workers’ obligations in relation to these consultations?
The worker has a duty to cooperate.
It is easy to accept the employee’s consent to carry out complementary tests, such as optometry, audiometry, spirometry or an ECG, but for certain tests or analytical samples, for example, the employee cannot be forced to carry them out without their consent.
What if the doctor thinks the employee can’t work?
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Temporarily unfit
The medical assessment determined that the worker’s fitness is temporarily insufficient.
The worker will have to go on sick leave and request a period of Absolute Temporary Incapacity for work from their GP.
These cases require a reassessment at a later date.
Sickness benefits can only be granted by the National Health Service.
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Permanently unfit
This occurs when there is definitive unfitness for the usual job, following a serious accident at work, for example.
In these cases, the search for another alternative and compatible activity for the employee’s relocation should be considered in close collaboration with the company’s management and Human Resources.
If such retraining cannot take place, it is often necessary to consider a Disability Retirement process, where information from the Occupational Physician is extremely important.
The benefits that a company or institution can derive from a quality occupational health service are unquestionable; it is up to all those involved to work together to develop and continuously improve this activity, on the road to excellence.
If you have any questions or would like a quote, you can contact us on 253 271 525 or by email at comunicacao@sepri.pt.
You can find us here.
