THE ROLE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL

 HEALTH NURSE TEAM

The Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) Team consists of a number of specialist OHN practitioners and experienced nurses whose aim is to support managers to achieve their statutory duties to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of people at work. 

Occupational health has progressed a long way from the traditional factory nurse role where only treatment and first aid services were undertaken. 

Occupational health nursing is not about duplicating the treatment services of a GP or hospital but involves the provision of a comprehensive number of services based on health risk assessment.  

Specifically, this involves:-  

§   The provision of helpful and meaningful advice to assist managers with their responsibilities on occupational health and health issues such as fitness and capability to work. 

§   Pre-employment health assessments to provide recommendations regarding an employee's suitability for work. This enables the employer to consider the required skills and health in relation to job risks and demands. 

§    Assistance with the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which requires the employer to focus on the capability of the applicant or employee and to enable them to consider and introduce adjustments to the work or workplace in order to employ or retain staff. 

§    The introduction of health surveillance and monitoring programmes, where there is a risk to health, identified through the risk assessment process. Implementation of any subsequent periodic health surveillance relevant to risks encountered in the workplace and the health of the employees. 

§    Support with managing attendance; early intervention by an Occupational Health Nurse to facilitate early return to work; support during sickness absence, rehabilitation and resettlement. 

§    Assistance with the development of occupational health; health & safety policies and procedures and the evaluation of these in relation to the business objectives. Provide written reports and statistical data on health initiatives. 

§    Design and provision of focused health promotion and education for employees, e.g. skin care, manual handling, prevention of noise induced hearing loss, etc.  

§    Support for the injured employee by ensuring adequate first aid provision and to provide professional support to First Aiders

§    The provision of a flexible approach to the Occupational Health Nurse's role to encompass an element of safety and welfare.

§    Provision of general health advice.