Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

ResearchOH service deliveryOccupational Health

Occupational health ‘too expensive’ and complicated, complain employers

by Nic Paton 12 Oct 2020
by Nic Paton 12 Oct 2020

Employers do not use occupational health because it is too expensive and too complicated, because they have had their fingers burnt in the past, because they don’t know where to look, or because they just don’t appreciate what OH can bring to the table, a survey by SOM (the Society of Occupational Medicine) has concluded.

The snapshot poll, albeit with a small sample base of just 11 employers, found that, where firms did not use occupational health, 25% felt this was because it was “too expensive”, while 13% each said they did not require it, the process was “too complicated”, they had a lack of knowledge about what OH could offer, they had “a poor previous experience”, or they simply were not aware of its availability.

However, where employers did make use of OH, it was primarily for return-to-work, case management and mental health support (all 67%), followed by help with health surveillance, musculoskeletal issues, and health and wellbeing strategies (all 44%).

Other common uses included pre-placement support (33%), flu vaccinations, support with risk assessments, and drug and alcohol screening (all 22%).

OH job opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more OH jobs

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Personnel Today Awards 2020: Diversity & Inclusion Award shortlist
next post
Garment workers ‘robbed’ of £27m in wages since July

1 comment

Avatar
Dr. Charles H.. Elliott, DHSc, PA-C 21 Oct 2020 - 12:11 pm

Often, a company first needs an occupational health (OH) analysis at a high level rather than an a la carte dart throw to fit limited situations. This can often be done electronically and via the web as a significant cost savings for a consultant. In today’s COVID environment, it is easy for it to be the gorilla in the room but other OH needs need to continue to be addressed by an occupational medicine professional.

See the website for an executive-level review of your current and future OH needs. I have over 35 years experience in global and domestic occupational medicine and now teach health administration at the doctoral level.

http://www.corporatemedicalconsulting.com

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

Obesity prevalence projections show 36% will be obese...

20 May 2022

NHS pressures leaving thousands waiting for cancer diagnosis

17 May 2022

Long NHS waits meaning many with long Covid...

17 May 2022

Grants scheme set up to support women’s health...

16 May 2022

Crumbling school buildings ‘risk to life’ suggests leak

16 May 2022

‘Gulf War Syndrome’ caused by release of nerve...

13 May 2022

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

Shift workers: knowing the diet-related health risks

12 May 2022

Majority unaware of long-term damage caused by stroke

12 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today