Not necessarily in order of importance -
Ask the nice HR person what they want, look at relevant policies eg absence, devise trigger points for referral if they havent got any
Devise your own referral form
Speak to nice H&S people about identified risks and health surveillance. Devise policy
Breathe occasionally
Get a presentation together for managers, who you are, what you will do and what you wont
Decide in your head how you will see people eg are you going to accept self referral and drop ins? Devise guidance notes
Devise introduction to new OH service pamphlet and distribute - maybe get someone to clip them on payslips?
See whether they have internal web pages - could you put something on that?
Breathe again, deeply
Look at kit, chuck away if necessary
Keep your head down and observe the main players
Make contact with unions
Realise you cant do it all in a month
I devised a project list, update it regularly to prove progress
Pre employment stuff?
 
I could go on - its endless........good luck!
 
 
 
 

 

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Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:51:06 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Starting from scratch
To: [log in to unmask]

Hi Kevin. I did he same 2 years ago. It is hard at times but I am now seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Juisc has been a great help to me. Where are you based? Mail me off list if you would like and I can let you know what I have done. Look at it as a long term project as you will have more enthusiasm than anyone else an need to cap some of it!!! I really enjoy my role and feel at home now.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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From: Kevin Lesley <[log in to unmask]>

Sender: [log in to unmask]

Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:39:24 -0700

To: <[log in to unmask]>

ReplyTo: Occupational Health mailing list <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Starting from scratch

Good morning all, 

I started a new post last week in a manufacturing company (cardboard and packaging products, high repetitive strain, moderately hight absence ). 

My background is having full time employment with large multi-national OH providers and I have now taken up a role where I am the only clinical employee in the company. 

I have a clinic, a full remit of health surveillance kit, an online booking system for appointments and a brand new HR director  with (so far) an excellent understanding of the remit of OH and it's true value to the organisation. 

But this is all I have - no departmental procedures, health questionnaires, staff database, policies. A room, kit and approachable HR is my lot. 

I am prioritising my tasks this week,Monday saw me fumbling around in the dark. I think in letting the totality of the situation blinker me at present. So before I finish my breakky and head back to my clinic - where I will have zero seconds to look at an email! I wonder if you could dispatch some collective knowledge and wisdom!

If you could build an OH department from scratch - where would you start? 

 I know I have a bit task on hand - I am awaiting the release of the Contemporary OH nursing guide in November with bated breath! 

Thank you (deflated and excited in the space of a single moment!)

Kev

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