Occupational health (OH) services have a very important role to play in supporting organisational success and productivity. OH professionals, including physicians and nurses, can advise management and employees of the health, safety, welfare and wellbeing issues relating to returning to work. They can contribute to a strategic role in assisting the organisation to get their workforce back to work and their businesses to become productive and eventually profitable. They can advise on the impact of COVID-19 on health and safety management; the psychological impact of COVID-19; and how employees with significant health problems could best return to work.
The lock-down precipitated by the COVID-19 crisis will have both physical and psychological implications for workers. On RTW many workers will have suffered with challenges which have impacted on their mental health. These will continue for some time post lockdown and for some include social and other factors such as:
- domestic abuse
- increased alcohol intake possibly resulting dependency on alcohol
- dependency on substances including medication whether those are prescribed or accessed in other ways
- problem gambling which can be accessed in the home including ways these can be undertaken online
- Financial hardship/debt
- Obesity
- Reduced exercise impacting on physical fitness
For workers who undertake physically demanding work, particularly those whose tasks are physically demanding involving moving and handling loads, there will be specific considerations to be made as there will be elements of the demands of their work tasks which could significantly impact adversely on their musculo-skeletal health. They will have to build up their physical resilience in order that they do not become injured and/or find adjustments to the way work is done to reduce the risk of injury.
Some employees may be reluctant to use public transport and may decide to travel to work on foot or bicycle and provision should be considered in relation to this travel choice. Some people have little choice other than using public transport for their commute.
Reasons to consider referring employees to seek Occupational Health Guidance:
- return to work following Covid-19 illness to support advice on risk assessment
- referral for support and advice for other health condition which increases risk (how to improve lifestyle/self-management)
- referral for other health issue which has been impacted by reduction in NHS services
- referral for shielding and high-risk advice on return to work
- referral for presenteeism; possibly due to mental health impact of current situation
- referral for a musculoskeletal assessment if returning to a physical role following a period of illness
- referral for mediation should there be any concerns between colleagues
- psychological support
- DSE support/ergonomics when rearranging workspaces
- Possible lack of physical activity or exercise during lockdown
We’re here to help and we’d like to hear from you and how the situation has affected your employees.
