In this article, we will tell you what occupational medicine is all about.

Occupational medicine is a field of medicine concerned with the detection, analysis and surveillance of occupational diseases.
Competent physicians are responsible for protecting the workerwho is subject to various risks, such as:

  • Chemical agents, such as acids and toxic substances;
  • physical agents, such as radiation, noise, vibration and microclimate;
  • Biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, parasites;
  • The use of video terminals;
  • Psychosocial risk factors;

The real purpose of occupational medicine

The risks listed above, over time or immediately, could cause serious damage to the exposed worker’s health.
For this reason, occupational medicine has the following goals:

  • prevent any form of disturbance that could limit a worker’s normal functioning and peace of mind;
  • improve the work ecosystem, if issues were identified after inspections;
  • lowering risk levels through periodic health surveillance, thus preventing workers from incurring occupational diseases;

Worker protection means employer protection.

The management of the service

The management of the occupational medicine service is the responsibility of the competent physician. The physician candidate for appointment is a competent professional specializing in Occupational Medicine, to whom D. Lgs. 81/08 delegates responsibility for health surveillance of workers. After being appointed, the appointed doctor reviews the risk assessment document, organizing the company’s health surveillance plan.

When is it mandatory for the company

It becomes an obligation for the company to appoint a competent physician in cases where the worker is exposed to risks related to his or her job. For example:

  • a video screen operator risks poor posture and lowered vision;
  • A warehouse worker who uses an electric forklift risks tipping over;
  • a driver with a c license, risks traffic accidents;
  • a warehouse worker who performs manual handling of loads risks back-related diseases;
  • an installer could come into contact with substances or bacteria or viruses that are hazardous to health;

Otherwise, companies are not obliged to appoint a doctor in pre-employment, such as to ascertain states of pregnancy, or in all other cases prohibited by law.

Health surveillance

Occupational medicine health surveillance, encompasses all medical functions, designed to protect the health and safety of workers, in relation to occupational risk factors, the work environment and the way work is carried out.
Health surveillance, strives to lower risk levels through periodic checks, thus ensuring the good health of workers and their ability to work.

Plan visits health surveillance

  • The preventive medical examination: it is accomplished first. It is required to verify the worker’s fitness for the intended task.
    The appointed competent physician will carry out only the checks related to the assigned task, verifying the state of good health in the worker to perform his or her work to the best of his or her ability;
  • Periodic medical examination: the worker’s health is periodically monitored, with the aim of confirming his or her fitness for the job. Usually the checkup is done annually. The appointed competent physician, may decide on a different cadence depending on the work-related risk;
  • Medical examination requested by the employee: in this case, it is the employee who requests a medical examination. The competent physician, after confirmation, will verify that the visit is related to risks to his health or aggravation of health conditions caused by the performance of his duties;
  • Medical examinations arranged upon the worker’s change of job: the competent physician should assess the worker’s good health and suitability for the new job;
  • Medical examinations prior to resumption of work, in cases specified by law, following an absence of more than 60 continuous days;
  • Medical examinations upon termination of employment when required by law;

The suitability judgment of each worker is the responsibility of the appointed competent physician,
It can express:

  • eligibility;
  • Partial eligibility (temporary or permanent, and also with limitations);
  • temporary unfitness;
  • Permanent unfitness;

The costs of medical examinations, clinical and biological examinations, investigations and examinations to verify the absence of alcohol dependence and the intake of psychotropic and narcotic substances are the responsibility of the employer.

Among the examinations performed by our Synergos facility, you will find spirometry examination, morpho-functional spine examination, electrocardiograph or ECG examination, and many others.

Occupational medicine, health surveillance and health services.

Synergos is a company that has been involved in occupational medicine for more than 25 years. The company provides health care services, offers consulting and conducts training courses to businesses and freelancers to ensure their safety in the workplace. With offices in Lecce and clients throughout Italy, Synergos is the ideal partner in health surveillance!