As an employer, it might not cross your mind very often to consider the worst case scenarios, but it is a harsh reality that someone in your organization might one day have an accident. Do you have a system in place should that day ever come? You might have first aid kits, emergency numbers listed, and workers compensation insurance, but do you know where your employee will receive treatment, and how that facility will communicate with you the results of that treatment? This is where occupational medicine and its programs can help you to be better prepared.
But what is occupational medicine, exactly? Essentially, it is a field of medicine where your business, your employee, and their treatment will come together in a very coordinated fashion. Signing on with occupational health programs will ensure that there is no gap in treatment or communication should there ever be an accident at your workplace. There are two specific reasons why your business should choose an occupational health clinic.
Drug Testing
There are two scenarios that call for drug testing.
- Pre-employment
- Reasonable cause
Across the nation, nearly 10% of employees could be using drugs in the workplace, according to the National Institute on Drug Addiction. Workplace drug abuse, or being under the influence while on the job, can increase the risk for accidents, violence, and poor performance. According to the Nationwide Medical Review, both directly and indirectly, businesses suffer the costs for workplace drug abuse to the tune of $100 billion each year. To protect your business from these costs, and to protect your employees, a pre-employment drug test is important, as is having a knowledgeable and experienced occupational health program at the ready to support compliance.
Workers Compensation
If there is ever an accident or incident, consider that there is a lot that will need to be taken care of.
- The employee needs treatment.
- Forms need to be filled and filed.
- Recommendations need to be made as to the condition of the employee.
- Recommendations need to be communicated clearly to both the employee and employer.
- Ongoing care and assessment may be required.
Occupational health programs are experienced in the workers comp process. If you choose a good provider, you will not need to worry that costs will get inflated, processes dragged out, or insufficient care given to your employees.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, occupational health services can and should have a general knowledge of your business, and the potential hazards associated with the jobs that your employees perform. They should also have a good knowledge of the issues, both legal and ethical, that apply to occupational health programs. For the safety of your employees, and the benefit of your business, do not neglect to make occupational health a priority. More like this article: Mammogram san antonio tx
