Introduction
Occupational health has been described by the Occupational Health Advisory Committee to the Health & Safety Commission as embracing
- the effect of work on health
- the effect of health on work
- rehabilitation and recovery programmes
- helping the disabled to secure and retain work
- managing work related aspects of illnesses and helping staff to make informed choices regarding lifestyle issues.
Occupational health provision cannot replace an individual's general practitioner. Staff and students need to be registered with a general practitioner.
Purpose
This document sets out University policy and arrangements to deal with occupational health issues arising from University activities or premises.
Principles
- 1. The University is committed to ensuring that the potential for ill health or injury arising from University activities or premises is minimised at source to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. It recognises that this duty of care for its staff extends to mental health as well as physical health at work. It recognises that this duty of care applies in certain circumstances to its students.
- 2. The University aims to ensure early identification and management of occupational ill health and to enable staff to raise, discuss and resolve issues.
- 3. The University aims to develop a framework to ensure that management and staff are aware of the nature, causes and effects of ill health. This is achieved through provision of information and guidance in the form of University policies and through the use of risk assessments to identify risks to health and to establish appropriate health checks. The University provides training, support and health education to inform managers and staff about the issues.
- 4. The University will ensure that individuals whose health is identified as particularly at risk at work are provided with appropriate management and health care whilst recognising the need for confidentially to be maintained.
- 5. The University will monitor the scale of occupational ill health and the effectiveness of its measures to reduce it.
- 6. The University provides competent specialist occupational health advice and services to staff and managers. This support may in exceptional circumstances, extended to students in situations where they are carrying out activities that could pose a risk to their health.
Responsibilities
Managers, i.e. members of the VCEG, CMT, corporate managers and heads of departments, must ensure that the health of their staff is not adversely affected by their work. They must
- ensure that work activities and premises are assessed and designed so far as reasonably practicable such that they will not lead to ill health
- ensure that their staff are advised of the risks and are provided with appropriate training
- address ill health as it arises amongst their staff, and
- ensure that there are appropriate work plans for individuals at significant risk.
Staff are responsible for maintaining their own good health and for utilising the occupational health support provided by the University, where appropriate.
The University ensures the provision of professional occupational health and counselling advisory services to staff and managers. These services include medical and counselling referrals, advice on health, stress, and risk assessment, health education programmes, and monitoring the effectiveness of the occupational health and stress policies.
Students are responsible for maintaining their own good health and should ensure that they are registered with a general practitioner during their registration period.
Arrangements
- 1. The University employs the services of fully qualified and experienced Occupational Health Advisers and (where required) an accredited Occupational Health Physician.
- 2. Staff experiencing ill health that they believe may be related to work should first speak to their line Manager in efforts to resolve the cause. If for some reason this is not appropriate, then in exceptional circumstances individuals may approach the HR Dept for referral through to the Occupational Health Advisor. Confidential counselling services are also available (see Stress Policy) as above.
- For further guidance in the management referral process refer to the HR Dept staff pages, HR Documents - 'Occupational Referral Form' and 'Occupational Health Information'.
- 3. Within the management function, any manager can obtain support and guidance on health and stress issues, return to work plans, medical or counselling referrals by contacting the Occupational Health Adviser (via the HR Dept.), or referring to the further HR guidance as above.
- 4. Health cases are referred to the Occupational Health Physician by the Occupational Health Adviser or the Head of Occupational Health & Safety.
- 5. Occupational health records are held on file by the Occupational Health Adviser.
- 6. Sickness absences are reported and recorded as set out in the current sickness absence procedure. The Occupational Health Adviser may evaluate occupational health issues arising from sickness absences and follows up as appropriate.
- 7. Pre-activity and employment screening is available from the Occupational Health Adviser who will, where necessary, refer the matter for medical assessment.
- 8. Occupational health and medical surveillance is organised by the Occupational Health Adviser based on requirements of a risk assessment.
- 9. Occupational health and medical surveillance of student nurses is provided by the hospital trust for which they work. The Occupational Health Adviser can also provide supporting guidance where required in this area.
- 10. Occupational health arrangements and records for nurse lecturers are maintained and co-ordinated by the individual host Faculty Dept.
- 11. Health education schemes are considered by the Health & Safety Committee and developed and implemented by the Health and Safety Dept. and the Occupational Health Adviser.
