Block 3: Occupational Health Management - Section 3: Medical Surveillance Programme - Procedure Guidelines

OHM3.1: Purpose, Scope, and Objectives

Purpose

The purpose of the company’s medical surveillance policy is primarily preventative.  ANSWERS THE QUESTION WHY PERHAPS THE 3 POINTS SHOULD BE DROPPED

1. To ensure that employees are fit for and suited to the work they are to do, and meet the inherent health requirements for the relevant occupation.  THESE ARE NEVER REALLY EXPLAINED IN GENERAL TERMS Yes, good pick-up! This is covered in detail in the Fitness Certification, Disability Guideline, which is under construction (pretty close to completion. I have some extra stuff to add, and then the document requires re-organising, whereupon it will be ready.) The current version is on the disk, and is referenced.
2. To ensure that the health of employees is not adversely affected by their work or working environment.
3. To establish baseline medical information on all employees, especially those exposed to health hazards.

Scope

The scope of this Policy includes all employees of the Company, (including contractors, where a separate "Mandatory Agreement" is not in place), in the territory of the Republic of South Africa  HOW ABOUT CONTRACT WORKERS WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY - IS IT NOT THE MAIN CONTRACING EMPLOYER.  THIS IS A BIG ISSUE IN SOME WORKPLACES. Good point!!

Objectives

The objectives of the medical surveillance programme are:

1. To ensure that the individual’s health status does not place the health of that employee, or of any other employees at increased risk.
• Employees found to be unsuitably employed are assisted in appropriate steps to either improve their medical status, such that they are able to return to their work, or are assisted in a genuine attempt to seek appropriate alternative occupations.
• Employees with injuries and illnesses, that render them unable to return to their work, are assisted with rehabilitation and workplace re-integration. Where relevant, these employees may need to attempt suitable alternative placement. Where appropriate, assistance should be given to enable compensation of workers with occupational diseases and/or injury.


2. To monitor employees’ state of health on a regular basis (periodical examination) so as to detect occupational diseases at an early stage, thereby determining the efficacy of hazard control measures.
• This early identification process allows interventions (medical or logistic) that have the best likelihood for excellent outcomes.
• Through the analysis of the medical surveillance data, high-risk areas in need of environmental intervention can be identified.
• This regular interaction with employees should ensure that they are adequately informed of the risks of their work (education) and the results of all medical examinations.


3. To establish the employee’s state of health before starting employment (the baseline), and on every occasion where there is transfer to another job during his/her employ with the company, providing a baseline each time, against which work-related changes may be identified more readily. thereby ensuring they meet the inherent requirements of the occupation. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE FITNESS TEST IN POINT 1 UNDER PURPOSE?  SHOULD THIS NOT COME FIRST? Good point. The "Baseline" thing actually links with point 2. Does my change look okay? 
   


4. To promote optimal health status of employees through identifying:
• Treatable medical conditions that may render them temporarily unable to perform their work.
• Chronic illnesses that may have no bearing on their fitness to work, but which threaten their personal long-term health.
• By referring them for remediation.  DOES THIS WORD INCLUDE TREATMENT, SECONDARY OR TERTIARY PREVENTION, PROMOTION ETC. Well, it was intended to include all reactive interventions to address the treatable medical conditions mentioned in the first bullet-point, as well as the chronic illnesses mentioned in the second bullet point.

REFERENCES

1. APPENDIX 1: Screening.
2. APPENDIX 2: Establishing Work-Related Causality.
3. APPENDIX 3: Flow of a Standard Medical Surveillance Programme.