Considering early deployment Occupational health assessment

It has almost become a habit to Occupational health assessment just before an employee is sick for 1 year. In many cases this is excellent timing. Especially since an employer is expected to deploy a reintegration company at 1 year sick in order to shape the second track. But did you know that in many cases it is wise to do an early Occupational health assessment ?

When to deploy a Occupational health assessment earlier?

Once it is clear that an employee has limitations that do not pass (fully) and that impede that employee from performing work, it is a wise move to involve a Occupational Assessor . The Occupational Assessor can assess:

• Whether there are tools that can be used that will allow the employee to continue to do the job;
• Discuss a structural adjustment of work;
• or much earlier that their own work is not suitable and that they should look for other work with their own employer or elsewhere. This creates clarity and gives the employee more time to find another job.

That the above situations can lead to a shortening of the absence period and reduction in absence costs goes without saying.

Added value early Occupational health assessment

The labor experts at Puls also see the added value of early intervention when reintegration is not going smoothly. When the company doctor cannot pinpoint the exact reason. The Occupational Assessor sits at the table with both employer and employee and can identify aspects that hinder reintegration. The earlier this is identified and discussed, the better something can be done.

So isn't it better to default to Occupational health assessment earlier?

The answer to that question is no. When an employee has a condition that is likely to just pass, it makes no sense to do a Occupational health assessment as early as three months. That would very often lead to the outcome that one's own work is not appropriate when it can become appropriate again.

So it is a fine task for case managers, counselors and employers to properly question the company physician about the prognosis. Do you have a case where an employee's restrictions are not (completely) disappearing or are not progressing smoothly? Then go to the website of Puls and request an immediate Occupational health assessment request.