It’s Occupational Health Awareness Week 2024 and the aim of this week is to share why occupational health is vital to ensure workforces thrive.
UKIM’s Head of Physiotherapy and Ergonomist, Glenn Robertson, explains how physiotherapy/ergonomics are valuable to workplaces and employee health…
"OH Services aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the working population and employees. As part of that service physiotherapists work together with a range of people like employers, Health & Safety Reps and employees, to help prevent and treat musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)."
Occupational Health (OH) Physiotherapists: Promoting Employee Wellbeing
"OH physiotherapists work in various settings such as manufacturing, service industries, retail etc. As well as assessing and treating MSDs, OH physiotherapists have specialist skills that can assist in helping to prevent work-related disorders by providing early interventions for those developing work-related conditions, engage in health promotion, manual handling assessments, injury prevention, analysing job demands, assessing fitness for work, and developing individualised rehabilitation and return-to work plans, while monitoring progress and advising on any changes."
Specialist Skills in Injury Prevention and Health Promotion
"Being able to assess the demands of an employee’s job allows for the physiotherapist to understand the functional requirements and therefore develop specific rehabilitation programmes, for example to increase strength, ability to bend, reach and lift - which in turn can help reduce concerns about being able to return to work or to safely return employees back to the workplace."
Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Plans Tailored to Job Demands
"Other than dealing with the consequences of work activities, ergonomic principles can also be used to assess work areas, systems and practices. This can support informed decision making around changes which can be made to help prevent work-related MSDs developing, as well as reducing injuries, discomfort and fatigue which can result in less absence, improved efficiency, productivity and quality."
At UKIM Occupational Health & Wellbeing, we have a wide-ranging suite of services available to help keep employees fit and healthy whilst at work.
