Staff Responsibilities:(based on the following document)

Taking into account the information provided in the previous pages, and the context of the Primary Health Care Programme, the roles of the various service providers include:

1. Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner:
1. Administration:
• Responsible for general functioning and efficiency of the OHS.
• Order equipment.
• Prepare budget in conjunction with occupational medicine practitioner.
• Follow up workmen’s compensation claims.
• Maintain statutory records, e.g. drug registers.
• Maintain individual patient records.
• Maintain other records such as absence, daily register and accidents.
• Ensure confidentiality of records.
• Provide monthly and annual reports on the OHS.
• Provide individual reports to patients, where relevant.
2. Treatment and care of workers with injuries and illnesses.
• Provide primary emergency care.
• Treat minor illnesses and refer as necessary to the doctor.
• Co-operate with external doctors in the treatment of workers.
• Review returning employees, regarding their fitness for returning to work after illness.
• Supervise first aid facilities.
3. Medical surveillance:
• Ensure that all employees have examinations as per the prescribed schedule.
• Perform all aspects of the medical examinations that are not the responsibility of the doctor and refer problems to the doctor.
• Ensure workers are fully informed as to reasons for the results of medical exams and tests.
• Ensure suitable follow-up for those examinations that reveal health problems.
• Correspond with line management re: fitness for work, light duty, etc.
• Know the plant and hazards pertinent to occupational health.
• Ensure smooth functioning of surveillance programs.
• Ensure adequate follow up of workers with problems detected by surveillance.
4. Counselling (Employee Assistance Programme):
• Be available and approachable to employees who need individual counselling.
• Run programmes such as alcoholism control, etc.
• Know the area resources for counselling and referring employees with non-occupational health problems.
5. Health and Safety education:
• Individual workers e.g. personal hygiene, safe working practices.
• Participate on the safety committee.
• Contribute to induction and other training programmes.
• Run campaigns, programmes etc. as needed.


2. Occupational Health Medical Practioner:
   The main role of the OHP will be to assist the OHN in the establishment and running of the OHS.
1. Assist with the Health Risk Assessment:
• Assist in the identification and assessment of potential workplace hazards.
• Assist in the Hazardous Chemical Substance risk assessment by conducting/co-ordinating the HCS toxicology review.
• Assist in job analysis (Occupational Risk and Exposure Profiling, or "OREPs"), and with ways to adapt the job to the person.
• Advise on health aspects of personal protective equipment.
2. Medical Surveillance Programme:
• Design and produce protocols for medical surveillance programmes (Worker Allocated Surveillance Programmes, or "WASP’s").
• Perform those aspects of the programmes that must be done by a medical practitioner, including assessment of those employees with health problems identified by the surveillance programme.
• Advise management and workers on factors in the working environment which are potential health hazards.
• Assist in the compilation of records, statistics and reports concerning health conditions.
• Advise management regarding the placement or reassignment of workers.
• Assist the OHN with problematic workmen’s compensation cases, typically occupational disease claims.
3. Education and counselling:
• Inform and advise management and workers on matters of health and safety including updates on current trends and new legislation.
• Assist the OHN in these training functions as needed.
• Participate in the safety committee as the need arises.
4. Evaluation:
• Regularly review and evaluate all components of the OHS and report to management and workers.
5. Primary clinical care (if referred by the Sister):
• Statutory responsibility for medicines control (purchasing, storing, dispensing and discarding of waste).
• Examine and treat ill and injured employees.
6. Support to the OHN in the following functions:
• Rehabilitation and counselling services.
• Health Promotion initiatives.
• Information dissemination, education and training.
• Liaison and referral network, including participation in Regional Steering Group.
• Health Information System (with administrative support).


3. Risk Management Officer:
• Participate in hazard evaluation, risk assessment and recommend remedial action.
• Safety Information management, data analysis and reporting.
• Risk management programme coordination.
• Design of Safe Work Procedures.
• Establish the Health and Safety structures (committees, meetings, and communication).
• Regular Safety Inspections and reports.
• Incident investigation.
• Emergency and disaster management.
• Information dissemination, education and training, especially of Health and Safety Representatives.


4. Occupational Hygienist:
• Participate in hazard evaluation, risk assessment and recommend remedial action.
• Establish and maintain a hygiene monitoring (environmental control) programme.
• Information dissemination, education and training.