FAQs about our Occupational Health Services
FAQs about our Occupational Health Services and workplace health assessments are detailed below. We also haver a detailed Referral Process Document when we send by email when we send the Assessment cost estimate document and our Referral paperwork.
Occupational Health Services – How quickly can an assessment be arranged?
Workplace Occupational Health Assessments can be arranged at the convenience of the individual and the employer, usually within 1-2 weeks once we have received all of the required referral paperwork. A longer timescale is required if medical evidence, reports, and consents need to be obtained. Use of email can speed up the process.
Who needs to be present at the occupational health assessment?
The assessor and the individual employee attend the appointment, whether it is face to face or via video call. The individual can have someone with them, such as a friend, family member or a union representative, if they wish.
Where is an occupational health assessment usually conducted?
With our occupational health services, we can offer face to face/in person assessments, often at the workplace location. This is especially important where the work tasks are physical in nature (eg a factory where the equipment and tasks are specific and need to be seen/analysed). Also, if the employee being assessed has specific physical needs or if a cognitive assessment is to be conducted using specific assessment tools, (eg neuropsychological standardised tests). A confidential discussion/assessment is held in a meeting room. We may then go to the work task location to assess it further. We can also conduct some appointments via video call. The venue will therefore depending on the individual circumstances and the employer and employee preferences.
If the questions to be answered in the report encompass several of the Healthywork Occupational Health services, what should be arranged?
An individual may require several of the Healthywork Ltd services. Therefore, the request can be adapted to the situation, and one assessment may be able to cover a variety of requirements. We can be flexible to specific requests.
If the individual is on long-term sick leave, how can they be assessed?
In many situations, it is suitable to conduct assessments whilst the individual is on sick leave, in order to assess what is going on at that stage and to begin planning the return to work process. For instance, it is suitable to conduct an Ergonomic Workstation Assessment prior to the return to work, so that equipment and other recommendations can be implemented in conjunction with the return to work schedule. These can then be in place from the first day back to work.
Occupational Health Services – Who does the report go to?
Sensitive reports, which include medical information and complex recommendations, are read by the individual employee first. Any corrections or comments they make are then considered by the assessor. The final copy of the report is then emailed to the person named on the Referral Form. This is usually the person who initiated the referral.
Non-medical reports are emailed directly out to the referrer. Within the report, it is requested that the individual is given a copy of the report as advice and information are enclosed which is useful for them to read and implement.
What are Reasonable Adjustments?
Reasonable adjustments or reasonable accomodations are made to assist an employee with a health issue under the Equality Act 2010. Please see: An Employers Guide to Reasonable Adjustments for extra information about this important process of working with and supporting employees.
Who implements the recommendations, such as ordering the equipment?
The referrer usually establishes who will be implementing the recommendations. It is usually the employer’s role to do this, and it is usual to discuss the recommendations with all involved, including the assessed individual.
ACAS provide further advice about using Occupational Health Services, which may be helpful.
These are the most FAQs about our Occupational Health Services and the workplace assessments we provide. Other providers may not be able to perform Face to Face appointments or visits to view and assess the workplace. Please Contact us if you have further questions.
