Guidance

The WHO defines Occupational Health as “an area of work…to promote and maintain highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations”. Despite the fact that the use of Occupational Health services in many organisations is now routine, there is still ambiguity about the role of the service and the benefits that it can bring if used effectively.

In Ireland, the function is used in a number of ways, some companies have in-house or contract Occupational Health practitioners (physicians or nurses), other use Occupational Health practices (in person and virtual assessments); while some may use general medical services with no speciality in Occupational Health but offer this service due to lack of alternative options to the employer based on their geographic location.