HR Glossary
Occupational Health
Table of contents:
- What Is Occupational Health?
- Why Does Occupational Health Matter?
- Key Functions of Occupational Health
- Who Provides Occupational Health?
- UK Legal and Regulatory Context around Occupational Health
- Benefits of Occupational Health for Employers
- Benefits of Occupational Health for Employees
- How Occupational Health is Linked to Absence Management
- How GoodShape Supports Occupational Health
What Is Occupational Health?
Occupational health is the specialist area of healthcare that focuses on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of people in the workplace. It aims to prevent work-related illness and injury, promote health at work, and ensure that employees are fit to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Why Does Occupational Health Matter?
Work environments and job roles can expose people to risks – from repetitive strain and chemical hazards to stress and fatigue. Occupational health helps employers identify these risks, manage them responsibly, and support employees to stay healthy, productive and safe.
Key Functions of Occupational Health
Risk assessment: Evaluating workplace tasks and environments to identify hazards that could affect health.
Health surveillance: Monitoring workers’ health when they are exposed to specific risks (for example: noise, vibrations, or hazardous substances).
Fitness for work assessments: Determining whether an employee is medically fit to carry out their role, especially after illness, injury, or during pregnancy.
Advice and support: Guiding employers on health-related policies such as ergonomic working, stress management, and absence prevention.
Rehabilitation and return to work: Helping individuals recover from illness or injury and return to work safely with appropriate adjustments.
Who Provides Occupational Health?
Occupational health services are typically delivered by trained professionals such as occupational physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and hygienists. They work with employers, employees and HR teams to deliver tailored health support.
UK Legal and Regulatory Context around Occupational Health
In the UK, employers have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their workers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. While formal occupational health services are not mandatory for all businesses, many sectors are required to carry out health surveillance for specific risks, and employers must seek competent advice to manage health risks effectively.
Benefits of Occupational Health for Employers
- Reduced sickness absence and long-term ill health
- Lower risk of work-related injuries or disease
- Improved productivity and morale
- Better compliance with health and safety responsibilities
Benefits of Occupational Health for Employees
- Early identification and management of health issues
- Support navigating health and work challenges
- Advice on managing conditions in the workplace
- Safe, healthier working conditions
How Occupational Health is Linked to Absence Management
Occupational health plays a crucial role in absence management by providing objective health assessments, identifying barriers to returning to work, and recommending reasonable adjustments to support sustained attendance. This helps employers create evidence-based return-to-work plans while treating employees fairly and compassionately.
How GoodShape Supports Occupational Health
GoodShape helps organisations make better, more timely use of occupational health by ensuring employees are signposted to the right support at the right time.
Through our absence management platform, GoodShape captures clear, consistent information when employees report sickness or health-related absence. This allows managers and HR teams to identify patterns, triggers and potential health risks early on. Where appropriate, the platform can prompt signposting to occupational health services, ensuring employees receive professional advice before issues escalate.
By integrating occupational health signposting into everyday absence processes, GoodShape helps employers to:
- Identify when occupational health input may be needed
- Support early intervention and faster recovery
- Create structured, evidence-based return-to-work plans
- Maintain fair, consistent decision-making across the business