Jan 2018
(a) Give the meaning of the term ‘occupational health’. (2)
A large organisation is outsourcing its occupational health service to a
contractor. It has been advised to choose a contractor that carries the
SEQOHS logo.
(b) (i) Identify what SEQOHS stands for. (1)
(ii) Outline how SEQOHS operates. (5)
(c) Outline TWO benefits to a worker of having access to an
occupational health service at work. (2)
This question assessed candidates’ knowledge and understanding of learning
outcomes 1.1: Outline the nature of occupational health; and 1.3: Outline the
management of occupational health (including the practical and legal aspects).
In part (a) candidates demonstrated a good understanding of the meaning of
‘occupation health’ with regards to the promotion of health and prevention of ill-health
in the workplace.
For part (b) candidates who had not read about, or had experience of, SEQOHS found
it challenging and had difficulty identifying what SEQOHS stands for and how it
operates.
Answers for part (c) included many general comments about health and well-being
rather than candidates demonstrating an understanding of how an occupational health
service can benefit an organisation.
Ans: (a) Occupational health should aim at the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of
physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of
departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment
from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; the placing and maintenance of the worker in an
occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities and; to summarize:
the adaptation of work to man and of each man to his job.
Occupational health focuses on three main objectives:
The maintenance and promotion of workers’ health and working capacity.
The improvement of working environment and work to become conducive to safety and health.
The development of work organizations and working cultures in a direction which supports health
and safety at work and in doing so also promotes a positive social climate and smooth operation
and may enhance productivity of the undertakings.
(b) (i) (Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Service) in 2010 and the Royal College of Physicians
was commissioned to develop and manage the accreditation scheme.
(ii) The Government’s established a broad stakeholder group led by the Faculty of
Occupational Medicine (FOM) to develop standards and accreditation for occupational health
services. The aim of the SEQOHS standards is to support the achievement of safe, appropriate and
effective quality services by occupational health services, applicable throughout the UK and
beyond.
The standards relate to professional activities and do not extend to an employer’s legal
responsibilities, which are already addressed by existing laws and regulations. However, an
occupational health service will not be accredited if it fails to meet all of the applicable statutory
requirements.
There are six main standards to be complied with:
1. Business probity
An OH service must conduct its business with integrity
An OH service must maintain financial propriety
2. Information governance
An OH service must maintain adequate occupational health clinical records
An OH service must implement and comply with systems to protect confidentiality
3. People
An OH service must ensure that its staff are competent to undertake the duties for which
they have been employed
An OH service must ensure appropriate clinical governance
4. Facilities and equipment
An OH service must conduct its business in facilities that are safe, accessible and appropriate
for the services provided
An OH service must ensure that medical equipment is safe and appropriate for the services
provided
An OH service must ensure that any medicines are handled appropriately
5. Relationships with purchasers
An OH service must deal fairly and ethically with purchasers
An OH service must be customer-focused in its relationships with purchasers
6. Relationships with workers
An OH service must ensure that workers are treated fairly and in line with professional
standards
An OH service must respect and involve workers
(c)
1. Access to Occupational Health related information concerning the risks and exposures in specific
occupation along with specified, customized and expert advice on safety measures.
2. Opportunity for early detection of occupational health issues facilitating better recovery rates.
Jul 2008, Jul 2011
Question 1 (a) Outline the four stages of occupational health and hygiene
practice. (4)
(b) An organisation is concerned about the level of absence arising
from work related injuries and ill-health. Suggest practical ways
in which the organisation’s occupational health department could
assist in the management of this problem. (6)
The first stage in occupational health and hygiene practice is recognising and
identifying hazards that can cause harm in the workplace. This would be followed by
taking measurements to determine who might be affected and to what extent. Once
the measurements have been completed, an evaluation of the level of risk posed by
the identified hazards will have to be carried out and this will point to the need to
introduce control measures to eliminate or minimise the risk.
There are a number of practical ways in which the organisation’s occupational health
department might assist in managing the problem described such as: using preemployment
screening to identify potential employees who would be at a greater risk
of suffering ill-health resulting in absence; carrying out regular health surveillance of
existing employees engaged in activities with known health hazards; collecting data
on sickness absence and analysing it to identify trends in or reasons for absence;
liaising with medical practitioners and providing rapid access to treatments such as
physiotherapy and counselling which will aid return to work; assisting managers to
arrange phased return to work in certain circumstances and providing practical advice
on adaptations to work practice to minimise risk of repeat injury; and taking an active
part in carrying out risk assessments at the workplace.
Ans:
a)
The FOUR stage in occupational health and hygiene practice are
- Identifying factors that can cause harm in the workplace.
- This would be followed by taking measurements to determine who might be affected and to what
extent.
- Once the measurements have been completed, an evaluation of the level of risk posed by the
identified hazards will have to be carried out and this will point to the need to
- Introduce control measures to eliminate or minimize the risk.
b)
There are a number of practical ways in which the organisation’s occupational health department
might assist in managing the problem described such as:
Using pre- employment screening to identify potential workers who would be at a greater risk of
suffering ill-health resulting in absence;
Carrying out regular health surveillance of existing workers engaged in activities with known
health hazards for example those exposed to lead;
Collecting data on sickness absence, analyzing it to identify trends or reasons for absence and
training managers in the importance of monitoring absence from work;
Liaising with medical practitioners, arranging vaccination or immunization programmes and
providing rapid access to treatments such as physiotherapy and counseling which will aid return to
work;
Assisting managers to arrange phased return to work in certain circumstances and providing
practical advice on adaptations to work practice to minimise risk of repeat injury; and taking an
active part in carrying out risk assessments at the workplace.
Jan 2014
Question 6 (a) Outline the meaning of the term ‘vocational rehabilitation’. (2)
(b) Outline the benefits to the employer of vocational rehabilitation. (5)
(c) Identify health care practitioners who may be involved in the
vocational rehabilitation of a worker. (3)
This question related to Element 11 of the syllabus and assessed candidates’
knowledge of learning outcome 11.2: Outline the principles and benefits of vocational
rehabilitation including the role of outside support agencies.
Vocational rehabilitation is all about helping people return to work or remain in work
after illness or injury. This question sought to explore the employer benefits. Many
candidates could not outline what the term meant. Some confused this topic with
providing sports fitness facilities such as gyms. Even so, most candidates could
outline benefits such as productivity gains and give examples of health care
practitioners.
Ans:
a) Vocational rehabilitation has been defined as a process that enables people with functional,
psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health conditions to
overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful
occupation.
b) The benefits to employer from vocational rehabilitation includes:
a. Productivity gain
b. Avoidance of health care charges moving forward due to recurrence or worsening of
medical conditions of employee
c. Utilisation of expertise and skills acquired by the employee from years of experience in
the organization
d. Moral support for the employee which turns into much needed dedication and
commitment
