Occupational health services

• Pages: 41-43

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6. Occupational health services

6.1. Consistent with the Occupational Health Services

Convention (No. 161) and Recommendation (No. 171), 1985,

the competent authority should make provision for the estab-

lishment of occupational health services:

(a) by laws or regulations; or

(b) by collective agreements or as otherwise agreed upon by

the employers and workers concerned; or

(c) in any other manner approved by the competent author-

ity after consultation with the representative organiza-

tions of employers and workers concerned.

6.2. Occupational health services may be organized as a

service for a single facility or as a service common to a

number of facilities, as appropriate, and by:

(a) facilities or groups of facilities concerned;

(b) public authorities or official services;

(c) social security institutions or any bodies authorized by

the competent authority.

6.3. The employer should provide for the setting up of or

access to an occupational health service whose basic function,

objective and operation in the establishment should be pre-

ventive and supportive to the employer, in particular regard-

ing:

(a) the identification and assessment of the risks from health

hazards in the workplace;

(b) surveillance of the factors in the working environment

(see Annex II) and working practices which may affect

workers’ health, including sanitary installations, canteens

and housing where these facilities are provided by the

employer;