Occupational health is an important branch of public health that focuses on the safety, health and well-being of employees. It is a multidisciplinary field that seeks to prevent common work-related illnesses and injuries through the development and implementation of different health and well-being programmes and initiatives.
Through the promotion of healthy work environments and practices, organisations can keep their employees healthy and improve their overall workplace experience. Investing in occupational health can be hugely beneficial for businesses and not only can it reduce the burden of work-related health conditions, but it can improve the quality of life of all workers.
If you’re considering introducing occupational health services to boost the overall health and well-being of your team, keep reading today. Below are some of the most popular services all organisations should consider using to improve employee satisfaction and inspire loyalty.
Pre-Employment Assessments
All organisations will have their own pre-employment assessments to help them ensure they’re hiring the right person for the job. Many will consider a candidate's qualifications, skills and abilities to better determine if they’re a good fit for the role. However, it’s important to ensure that all prospective employees are physically and mentally fit to carry out the job requirements too.
By assessing candidates before they are hired, organisations reduce problems with both absenteeism and presenteeism. They can keep the workplace free from safety issues and demonstrate that they take reasonable steps to protect their employees. Organisations can also reduce the costs associated with high employee turnover rates and constant recruiting.
Sickness Absence Management
Sickness absence management is a process used to monitor, manage and reduce the number of days lost due to employee absences. It involves identifying the causes of absence and developing strategies to reduce the number of days lost to sickness. This can help to reduce the costs associated with absenteeism and improve the productivity of employees.
Lots of organisations invest in sickness absence management to help them keep morale high too. When they take steps to reduce employee absence and encourage employees to regularly attend work, they can improve working relationships and boost general mood. Sickness absence management can help to improve the overall health and well-being of employees.
Health Surveillance and Testing
When actively trying to protect the health of their employees, many organisations will introduce health surveillance and testing. This occupational health service includes monitoring employees’ exposure to hazards, providing regular medical examinations and testing, and maintaining records of any health-related issues that may arise.
Health surveillance and testing helps organisations identify potential health risks to employees and take action to reduce them, protecting the health and well-being of their teams. It also highlights common health problems, enabling employees to be proactive and get treatment quickly, which can have a big impact on the outcome.
Health and Well-Being Programmes
Having programmes in place to promote a healthy lifestyle and create a healthier workplace environment can be hugely beneficial. Health and well-being programmes can include everything from physical activity initiatives and ergonomic assessments to stress management techniques and mental health support.
The goal of these programmes is to help employees take better care of themselves and live healthier lives, reducing absenteeism. The right health and well-being programmes can also help to improve job satisfaction and prevent high employee turnover rates. Encouraging employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle can be more impactful than you may think.
Investing in Occupational Health Services in Ireland
It’s fair to say that all of the different occupational health services mentioned above have their own unique benefits and if you’re trying to improve the overall health of your employee population, it’s worth introducing some of these. To speak to an expert about workplace health and well-being services in more detail, contact us at Precision Health today.
We provide a vast range of specialist occupational health services in Ireland and since 2014, we have worked with a diverse range of Irish companies to boost employee health and well-being. Our team will happily discuss our range of innovative and effective services with you, and we can answer any questions you may have. We look forward to working with you and we are passionate about improving the overall health of your employee population.