Occupational health information for the employer
Confido provides professional and high-quality occupational health services for your employees. Occupational health is essential for all companies as it ensures employees’ wellbeing, health and safety at the workplace.
A healthy and safe working environment ensures employees’ wellbeing and health. To achieve this, it is important to regularly assess and improve the working environment and ensure regular occupational health check-ups for employees.
The aim of the health check-up is to assess how the working environment and tasks affect employee health. If necessary, the occupational health doctor will give recommendations and instructions on how to improve the working environment, helping to minimise potential health risks to employees. In addition, employees will receive valuable tips on self-management and maintaining their capacity for work.
The content of the health check-up is determined on the basis of a risk analysis of the working environment, thus ensuring a tailored and effective approach to monitoring and maintaining employees’ health. Health check-ups are mandatory for all companies with more than one employee.
Occupational health is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its implementing acts. It plays an important role in creating a safe working environment and raising employees’ awareness of occupational health ( Occupational Health and Safety Act).
Employees must undergo a health check-up within four months of starting work. Exceptions include night-shift work and other positions with specific regulations, where the check-up must be carried out before starting work. Repeat check-ups are carried out at least once every three years. Their frequency will be determined by the doctor during the appointment.
After the occupational health check-up, the employer is issued a decision signed by the occupational health doctor, stating whether the employee is fit to work in the given position and providing recommendations for improving the working environment. The employer will not be given any other information related to the check-up.
The health check-ups are based on a risk analysis, which must be prepared before they begin. The risk analysis should be comprehensive, giving a clear overview of the risks that could affect employees in their position. It helps employees protect themselves and employers assess and minimise risks and inform their employees accordingly. A comprehensive risk analysis also protects the company against possible future disputes.
You can conduct a workplace risk assessment in the Labour Inspectorate’s self-service portal. It is free and provides a good opportunity for initial hazard identification.
More comprehensive risk assessment analyses are carried out by our contractual partner Protect Estonia OÜ.
Occupational health check-up
The employee will first be seen by an occupational health nurse, who will provide an initial assessment of their health. The check-up includes the following procedures:
- anthropometry
- resting ECG
- blood pressure measurement
- occupational history
- blood tests
- eye chart test*
- counselling on work ergonomics, physical and mental health and lifestyle
If the occupational risk factors require it, the following additional examinations will be carried out.
- Audiometry (hearing test) – measures hearing ability and helps assess potential hearing impairments that may be caused by workplace noise.
- PEF measurement and, if necessary, spirography (lung function test) – assesses lung functionality and the potential effects of exposure to air pollution or dust in the work environment.
- Analyses – blood tests or other laboratory examinations for a more thorough assessment of the employee’s health and potential risks in their work environment.
*The eye chart is carried out for everyone, including those who wear glasses. If the visual acuity is below a certain level or has changed, the employee will be referred to an optometrist for a vision test after the nurse’s appointment.
In addition to the check-up, the following services are also available to employees.
- Stress test – helps assess the employee’s physical capacity and workload tolerance, preventing injuries and improving work efficiency.
- Mental health specialist consultation – provides support and counselling for stress, anxiety or other mental health problems, supporting the employee’s wellbeing and capacity for work.
- Massage – relieves muscle tension, improves circulation and reduces stress, promoting overall wellbeing and productivity.
- Physiotherapy – helps restore muscle and joint function, relieves pain and improves mobility and capacity for work.
- Chiropractic consultation – helps relieve back and muscle pain, improves posture and supports healthy movement and wellbeing at work.
- Trainings – promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, increasing energy levels and stamina in the work environment.
- Optometrist consultation – assesses vision and, if necessary, adjusts glasses or contact lenses, ensuring better visual comfort and capacity for work.
- Digital clinic – allows employees to get health advice seven days a week, wherever they are.