Job type

Different types of job can influence risk level for disease. Job placements in hazardous environments, for instance, increase the risk of developing occupational diseases. Likewise, workers in temporary or contract-based jobs often are at increased risk of injury and disease, especially if the type of work involves exposure to potentially harmful physical, chemical, or biological agents.

In addition, some jobs require employees to maintain health at a relatively high standard, wherein employee health and ability must be regularly monitored. Airline pilots, for example, undergo regular medical checkups because a pilot with failing vision or one who suffers from an undetected heart condition that can lead to a heart attack could endanger many lives. The health service can also give valuable advice with regard to alternative employment when a worker is found to be unfit for a particular job.

Safety training

An occupational health service has a responsibility to keep all employees informed about hazards in the workplace. The measures taken to protect employee health should be thoroughly explained so that workers understand the necessity of complying with requirements such as wearing protective clothing and face masks. First aid facilities should be organized and employees instructed about first aid procedures in case of accidental injuries or other emergencies.

Supervision of high-risk groups

Exposure levels considered safe for a young male worker may be hazardous for a pregnant woman (the fetus, especially during the first three months of development, is particularly sensitive to environmental toxic agents). Pregnant women, as well as other vulnerable groups, such as the very young, the elderly, and persons affected by disability, therefore require appropriate medical surveillance and advice about specific precautionary measures they can take.

Control of recognized hazards

A complex system of environmental and biological monitoring has been developed for the control of known hazards at work. Occupational health practice is concerned with monitoring the concentration of toxic substances in the environment, determining safe exposure levels, suggesting procedures to limit worker exposure, and monitoring workers for signs of overexposure. Occupational health specialists can also contribute to the prevention of health risks by assisting in the planning and design of new equipment and factories.

Identification of unrecognized hazards

Occupational health services can play a major role in the detection of new health hazards of all types. Clinical observation and study may reveal a causal relationship between patterns of sickness or mortality in groups of workers and their occupational exposure. Examples of hazards identified in this manner include lung cancer and nasal cancer among nickel workers, lung cancer in asbestos workers, and coronary heart disease among workers exposed to carbon disulfide (used in the manufacture of rayon).

Treatment

Quick, on-site treatment of work injuries and poisonings can prevent complications and aid recovery. Employees referred to an occupational treatment service further benefit from specialized counseling and health education, which can help clients and their families understand their health conditions and learn approaches to modify spaces and practices at work to improve accessibility and safety.

General health education and surveillance

Occupational health services may also provide general medical care for workers and their families in regions affected by inadequate community health services. Even when general health care is provided elsewhere, an occupational health service can offer an effective and often economically advantageous program of health education and counseling. By advising employees on topics as tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, exercise, and diet, the occupational health service can improve worker health and efficiency and reduce illness and absenteeism. The health service is also in a position to organize employee health surveillance programs for the early diagnosis of disease.