Occupational health assessment - An employer’s guide

An Occupational Health Assessment is a confidential conversation between an individual and a health professional after a reason for referral, especially if they are returning to work after absence due to ill health.

These screenings are important to determine an employee's ability to carry out the duties required of them in their role.

Staff members may need a health check either before starting a new role or returning to work after an extended period off.

Related article: What is Occupational Health?

What is an occupational health assessment?

An occupational health check, also known as an employee health screening or employee health assessment, is the term used to describe health screenings required by an employer. It's used to identify an employee’s health concerns to inform any reasonable adjustments required, as well as help prevent and reduce work-related injuries.

In most cases, it can determine if an employee is well suited to a particular role. For example, roles that involve physical abilities like heavy lifting will require a health check. Occupational health screenings look at both physical and mental health, to ensure an individual’s needs are looked at holistically. Questions will generally be asked around (but are not limited to):

• Lifestyle

• Medical history

• Current health

• Mental health assessments and/or concerns

• Physical limitations

• Expected recovery time for any physical injuries and/or operations

Why should employers carry out occupational health assessments?

Employers must comply with legal obligations to safeguard employees. For example, all employers in the UK must comply with the Equality Act 2010 to prove their duty of care to staff. It also helps manage any risks that may arise – particularly in physically and/or mentally demanding industries such as healthcare and construction.

• Other legal responsibilities employers must comply with (that an employee health screening can support) are:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - to protect employee’s health and safety.

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – employers must assess risks to health and implement appropriate controls

• Data Protection Act 2018 (and UK GDPR) – employers must process any health information must be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

From a business perspective, occupational health assessments can help mitigate absences. By accommodating employees with what they need to work safely and effectively, they’re less likely to take time off work due to a work-related matter that affects their physical and mental wellbeing.

Is it worth the cost?

In short, yes. Employee absences – particularly if they’re repeating or long-term – can be hugely detrimental to the employer. This is because you may incur additional costs such as:

• Lost productivity

• Sick pay

• Rehiring costs

• Presenteeism – (being physically but not mentally present at work)

Employee health checks can essentially be seen as a proactive investment, to mitigate the ongoing (and often hidden) costs of employee absenteeism.

Occupational health assessment: What to expect

An initial conversation with a consultant can take up to 45 minutes. At this point, they'll collect all the relevant information needed to give an informed opinion. There'll also be a review at the end of the initial consultation that'll need an extra 30 minutes.

They’ll ask about any pre-existing conditions as well as any treatment they might be receiving. As well as any difficulties arising from the work being undertaken and any activities out of work that they’re involved with.

In some cases, the health professional may require more information about an employee’s health history. If so, they’ll need to explain why they need said information.

They’ll also need the individual to sign a consent form that allows them to approach a GP or hospital specialist.

Following the assessment, the health professional will send a certificate of fitness for work. This will detail the employee’s ability to work and proposals for any job modifications or adjustments to support them in the workplace. No medical information will be included.

Health risk factors

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified eight factors that they class as risks to our health. During the initial consultation, the specialist may inquire about any of the following:

1. Smoking

2. Drinking

3. Obesity

4. Poor diet

5. Lack of exercise

6. High cholesterol

7. High blood glucose

8. High blood pressure

Benefits of occupational health screening – Employers

• Reduced illness-related days – absences

• Increased staff retention, engagement, and productivity

• Improved team-working

• Increased job satisfaction

Benefits of occupational health screening – Employees

• Reduced health risks

• Improved performance

• A better understanding of mental health

• Access to physical and mental health information

• Helps overcome or manage existing health problems

• Look out for previous unidentified issues early on

• Lifestyle advice (smoking, drinking, weight loss, etc.) to enhance long-term benefits

Why choose occupational health assessment?

Depending on your company, industry, and regulations, these occupational health services serve various purposes including:

• Establishing a candidate’s ability to meet the physical requirements of a role

• Monitoring staff’s health status at appropriate intervals in cases where the job involves exposure to health hazards

• Establishing an employee’s ability to return to work after a prolonged absence

• Recognising the conditions under which staff members with health conditions may work. They include illnesses, disabilities and injuries are able to continue working

• Determining the long term implications of exposure to hazardous substances

Types of occupational health screening

• Employee health screening comes in different forms including:

• Pre-employment health checks: It's offered to new workers to identify any health issues that require support while at work

• NHS Health Checks: Offered to everybody in England every five years

• Health checks/lifestyle checks: There are general health checks offered to staff as part of an employee assistance programme

• Health surveillance: Regular checks for existing personnel. It may be a legal requirement if your staff after exposure to dangerous substances at work

How an Employee Assistance Programme can help

A good Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) should offer occupational health assessments to employers who need it. After all, a holistic approach to employee wellbeing means only needing to outsource support from one place. HA | Wisdom Wellbeing is the UK’s leading and only national EAP provider to be accredited by both BACP and NCPS – offering counselling support, occupational health assessment, trauma management and much more.

Our Occupational Health Assessment service is exclusively available to existing HA | Wisdom Wellbeing customers who have an active EAP in place. If employee wellbeing has been a concern and you want to mitigate employee absences where possible, chat to us today to discover how we’ve helped support 88,000+ organisations and 12.5 million lives