Occupational health information for employees
A person spends about eight hours a day at work, that is 40 hours a week and 160 hours a month. This amounts to a quarter of a month, making work a significant part of our lives. With so much time spent at work, the workplace must be safe. Both the employer and the employee are responsible for this.
Many health problems are work-related because even jobs that seem very safe have their risks. For example, you are unlikely to break a leg or get seriously poisoned at an office job, but the computer monitor, work stress, night-shift work and forced positions (sitting, standing, repetitive movements) also have a negative impact on your health.
Sitting in front of a monitor affects the eyes. If it is in the wrong position, the monitor can keep your muscles under tension for a very long time. Excessive work stress and failing to use stress management techniques can lead to burnout, depression and anxiety. It also significantly reduces work efficiency. Working in forced positions can cause back, neck, arm and leg pain and lead to postural disorders and chronic pain in the long term. Night-shift work affects the biological circadian rhythm and can lead to insomnia, which in turn causes fatigue. Night-shift work is also associated with a much higher incidence of obesity, which significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, several types of tumours and many other diseases.
The main questions our specialists are looking to answer are:
- What risk factors is the employee exposed to at work?
- How is the employee’s health in general?
- How does the working environment affect or how has it affected the employee’s physical and mental health?
- What are the solutions for making the working environment as safe as possible for the employee?
- If there a way to promote the employee’s health to improve work efficiency, and how?
In addition, our specialists give advice on self-management – how to take care of and/or improve your health – and stress relief techniques. Our health is largely in our own hands. Take care of your health and come in for a check-up!
A checklist for attending an occupational health check-up
The scope of the examinations carried out at the check-up depends on the risk factors you are exposed to at work and the company’s wishes. In addition to the compulsory analyses and examinations, the company can choose additional health check-up services.
Employee health check-ups are carried out by experienced specialists. During the check-up, you will receive personal health advice, an assessment of your health status, and, if necessary, a prevention plan for avoiding health problems. Our doctors can help you with your health problems even if they go beyond the scope of the health audit required by your employer. By agreement, we are prepared to help, monitor your health and provide recommendations and guidance for any additional actions and examinations you may need.
The doctor will review your health data before the appointment to be able to provide a comprehensive service. This allows us to give you the best health advice and reduces the time needed for the check-up.
How to prepare for an occupational health check-up?
Please fill in the questionnaire immediately or at least three days before the check-up.
Fill in the health declaration here.
Blood tests can help diagnose diseases, assess body functions and prevent and detect potential health problems. During the check-up, a clinical blood test (haemogram) and a blood glucose level test will be performed.
- On the day before the blood test, you can eat and drink as usual, but the consumption of alcohol, coffee and fats should be limited.
- To ensure the objectivity of the blood test results, it is recommended to not eat for at least two hours before the test.
- You can drink plain non-carbonated water.
More information on blood test can be found here.
The initial eye examination is carried out by an occupational health nurse using an eye chart test. If the chart test reveals a change in visual acuity or other eye-related complaints, the employee can consult our optometrist immediately after the nurse’s appointment. An optometrist consultation as part of the occupational health check-up does not involve any additional costs.
- People who wear glasses are kindly asked to bring them to eye test.
- We ask that you remove your contact lenses a couple of hours before the appointment.
- Employees who are already treated by an ophthalmologist do not need to see the optometrist.
The test is designed to assess the hearing acuity of employees working in noisy environments.
- Please come to the test with rested ears. This means that you should avoid being in a noisy environment for at least 12 hours before the test.
A cardiac stress test is a diagnostic measure used to assess the condition of the cardiovascular system and determine the causes of cardiac arrhythmias, chest pains and other cardiac complaints.
- Wear loose, light sportswear that does not interfere with the movement of your legs.
- Take your regular medications unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
- The test is performed wearing athletic shoes (in the absence thereof, closed, low-heeled shoes are also suitable).
- Avoid eating too much for three hours before the test. You are allowed to have a light meal and drink fluids.
- If you wear glasses, be sure to bring them with you so you can monitor the scale readings.
- If possible, please bring any previous ECG and stress test results if you have them (the physician has access to results that have been uploaded to the health portal).
- There is a changing room and a shower (including a towel) on site.
You can take your daily medications before the appointment.
During the check-up, doctors may recommend additional examinations, analyses or specialist consultations. These will be agreed upon with you in advance and suitable appointments will be booked.
We expect you to arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. Please do not forget to bring a valid identity document (ID card/passport).
Please do not come to the check-up if you are ill, on incapacity leave or on your vacation.