An occupational health assessment is a confidential meeting with an occupational health professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or occupational hygienist. The assessment will typically involve a discussion of your health history, a physical examination, and a discussion of your work environment and the hazards you may be exposed to.

Occupational health assessment for work

Occupational health assessments can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Pre-employment assessments to assess an employee’s fitness for work
• Return to work assessments after an illness or injury
• Health surveillance for employees who are exposed to certain hazards
• Ergonomic assessments to assess the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
• Stress assessments to assess the risk of work-related stress

What does an occupational health assessment involve?

The specific content of an occupational health assessment will vary depending on the individual’s needs and the purpose of the assessment. However, most assessments will involve the following:

• A discussion of your health history, including any current or past medical conditions and any medications you are taking
• A physical examination, if necessary
• A discussion of your work environment and the hazards you may be exposed to
• A discussion of any health concerns you have about your work

What is the purpose of an occupational health assessment?

The purpose of an occupational health assessment is to:

• Assess an employee’s fitness for work
• Identify any health risks associated with their work environment
• Develop recommendations to manage or reduce those risks
• Support employees to maintain good health and well-being at work

Occupational health assessments for employers

Occupational health assessments can benefit employers in a number of ways, including:

• Reducing the risk of work-related accidents and illnesses
• Improving employee morale and productivity
• Reducing absenteeism¹
• Reducing healthcare costs
• Improving compliance with health and safety regulations

Occupational health workplace assessment

An occupational health workplace assessment is an assessment of the physical, chemical, and biological hazards in a workplace. The assessment will also consider the psychosocial hazards, such as stress and bullying.
An occupational health workplace assessment aims to identify and assess the risks to employee health and safety. The assessment will also make recommendations on how to reduce or manage those risks.

How to get an occupational health assessment

If you are an employee, you can ask your employer if they offer occupational health assessments. If they do, they should be able to provide you with more information on how to book an assessment.
If you are self-employed, you can contact a private occupational health provider who will provide you with details of their services and fees.

Employer Occupational Health Assessment

An employer occupational health assessment is an assessment that an occupational health professional carries out on behalf of an employer. The assessment may be used for various purposes, such as pre-employment assessments, return-to-work assessments, and health surveillance.

Employee Occupational Health Assessment

An employee occupational health assessment is an assessment that is carried out on an employee by an occupational health professional. The assessment may be used for various purposes, such as pre-employment, fit-for-work, and risk assessments.

Occupational health work assessment

An occupational health work assessment is an assessment that an occupational health professional carries out to assess an employee’s fitness for work. The assessment may also make recommendations on how to manage any health risks associated with the employee’s work.

Occupational health needs assessment

An occupational health needs assessment is an assessment that an occupational health professional carries out to identify the occupational health needs of a workforce. The assessment may also make recommendations on how to meet those needs.

Occupational health doctor assessment

An occupational health doctor assessment is an assessment that is carried out by an occupational health doctor. Occupational health doctors are specialists in the field of occupational health and have the expertise to assess the health risks associated with various workplaces.

Occupational health medical assessment

An occupational health medical assessment is an assessment that is carried out by an occupational health professional to assess an employee’s health. The assessment may also make recommendations on how to manage any health risks associated with the employee’s work.

Occupational health assessment report

An occupational health assessment report is a report that is written by an occupational health professional following an occupational health assessment. The report will typically include the following information:

• The employee’s health history
• The findings of the physical examination (if applicable)
• The employee’s work environment and the hazards they may be exposed to
• Any health concerns the employee has about their work
• The occupational health professional’s recommendations

Occupational health assessment guide

An occupational health assessment guide is a document that provides information on occupational health assessments. The guide may cover various topics, such as the different types of assessments available, what to expect from an assessment, and how to prepare for an assessment.

References

1. Reducing work related psychological ill health and sickness absence: a systematic literature review