Why Occupational Health is so Important
Occupational Health is a necessary and required aspect of public health dedicated to ensuring the physical, mental, and social well-being of workers throughout all occupations. By focusing on the prevention, management, and improvement of workplace-related health issues, occupational health is there to create environments where you or your employees can perform their duties safely and effectively.
Occupational Health is important for several reasons:
- Legal Compliance: The USA mandates workplace safety and health standards that come with almost unrealistic fines if you are ever caught out of compliance so don’t learn that lesson the hard way.
- Employee Well-Being: Making occupational health a priority boosts your employee morale, enhances job satisfaction, and greatly reduces your turnover rates.
- Economic Benefits: Illnesses and injuries in the workplace cost employers like you BILLIONS of dollars annually in lost productivity and time which is arguably the most overlooked, medical expenses, and workers compensation among other expenses.
- Reputation: If your company stays compliant and invests in Occupational Health as they are supposed to be doing, that company will always be viewed more favorably by everyone from the employees to the customers and even the general public knowing they are doing business with a reputable company that does all it can to prevent illness and injuries in the workplace.
Key Components of Occupational Health:
- Pre-Placement Screening: Conducting medical screenings before employment.
- Preventative Vaccines and Training
- Medical Oversight: Regular health screenings can detect early signs of work-related conditions or exposures to hazards.
- Confidential Record Management: Confidentiality of Occupational Health records and medical information to protect your and/or your employees’ privacy.
Benefits of Maintaining Occupational Health:
- Reduced Expenses: Occupational Health directly and indirectly lowers your costs related to future medical treatments, compensation claims, lost productivity and employees out of the office.
- Prevention of Health Issues: Regular health screenings and wellness programs are essential for early detection and prevention of potential health problems.
- Increased Safety: Feelings safe at work is more important to employees than employers realize.
- Improved Retention and Morale: A focus on employee health fosters a supportive work environment, which increases job satisfaction and loyalty as well as efficiency – driving organizational success.
Occupational Health is a critical component of any sustainable workplace and begins before an employee even begins their first day on the job. Pre-placement physical exams and drug screenings ensure that new hires are physically and mentally fit for their roles. Ongoing preventative measures, such as regular health screenings, vaccinations, medical oversight, and other health support is essential in maintaining a healthy workforce and workplace. So, prioritize Occupational Health now to not only stay compliant with your legal standards, but also to increase your operational efficiency and overall reputation.
