Occupational Medicine connects health with the realities of work.
A useful assessment does not stop at a diagnosis or a routine examination. It considers what the person actually does, the demands of the job, relevant workplace exposures, and the decision that needs to be made.
A preventive specialty
ILO Convention No. 161 defines occupational health services as services with essentially preventive functions and an advisory role for employers, workers and their representatives. ILO Recommendation No. 171 also states that programs should be adapted to the undertaking and its specific occupational hazards.
What this means in practice
Depending on the question, Occupational Medicine may include pre-employment assessment, periodic surveillance, fitness-for-work evaluation, return-to-work assessment, workplace review, exposure-related testing, training and advice to organizations. The method should follow the work-related question rather than a fixed package of tests.
The practical objective
The objective is to produce a medically sound opinion that can be used safely and proportionately in the workplace, while protecting medical confidentiality and focusing on prevention where possible.
References
- ILO Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161)
- ILO Occupational Health Services Recommendation, 1985 (No. 171)
These references support the occupational medicine principles discussed above. Individual assessment and legal requirements may vary by job, exposure and jurisdiction.