Details About Occupational Health Provider

The rapid development of workplace health protective and preventive services has been driven by government strategies and recommendations, in addition to by the European Union legislation in the regions of health and safety at the job and by the European Commission programme in public areas health. This was also largely as a result of new demands and expectations from employers, employees and their representative bodies as they recognize the economic, social and health benefits achieved by providing these services at the workplace, thus providing the available knowledge and evidence essential for the continuous improvement of workplace health management. This short article series describes the author's observations of varied roles undertaken by the occupational health nurse. Whilst recognizing the wide variation that exists in occupational health nursing practice between different industrial and blue collar environments this series reflects the standards which have been already achieved where occupational health nursing are at its most advanced.

Nonetheless it must be recognized that the degree of education, professional skills and the existing national legislation determines what role may be actually undertaken by occupational health nurses. Even more important is to remember that no body professional out of the existing workplace health professions is currently effective at meeting all health needs of the working population. A multi-disciplinary approach is needed to effectively manage the growing workplace health and safety demands in operation today. The workplace health services use the skills of many professionals such as for instance specialist occupational physicians, safety engineers, occupational hygienists, occupational health nurses, ergonomists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, laboratory technicians, psychologists and other specialists. The role and tasks actually performed for the businesses by representatives of different health and safety professions vary greatly dependant on legislative needs, scope of the workplace health concept perceived by directors, enforcement practice, the degree of their education, position in the occupational health infrastructure, actions undertaken by insurance institutions and a number of other factors.

Occupational health nurses are the greatest single number of health professionals involved with delivering health services at the workplace and have the main role to play in the workplace health management. They are at the forefront in aiding to safeguard and promote the health of the nation's working population. The role of the occupational health nurse in workplace health management is just a new and exciting concept that is made to enhance the management of health and health related problems in the workplace. Specialist occupational health nurses can enjoy a major role in protecting and improving the healthiness of the working population within this strategy. Occupational health nurses also can create a major contribution to sustainable development, improved competitiveness, job security and increased profitability of businesses and communities by addressing those factors which are linked to the fitness of the working population. By helping to lessen ill health occupational health nurses can donate to the increased profitability and performance of organizations and reduce healthcare costs. Occupational health service also can help to reduce the externalization of costs onto the taxpayer, by preventing disability and social exclusion, and by improving rehabilitation services at work. By protecting and promoting the fitness of the working population, and by promoting social inclusion, occupational health nurses also can create a significant contribution towards building a caring social ethos.