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Occupational Health
Environmental Health
"Not only in antiquity but in our own times also laws have
been passed in well-ordered cities to secure good conditions
for the workers; so it is only right that the art of medicine
should contribute its portion for the benefit and relief of
those for whom the law has shown such foresight; indeed
we ought to show peculiar zeal, though so far we have
neglected to do so, in taking precautions for their safety, so
that as far as possible they may work at their chosen calling
without loss of health".
De Morbis Artificum (Diseases of Workers 1700)
RAMAZZINI 1633- 1714.
In 1971 the most notable event in relation to
occupational health was the formation of an Occupational
Health Unit. The Unit is now responsible for all the
occupational health work of the Health Department. The
work falls naturally into three divisions:
The Staff (Comprehensive) Health Service
The Student Health Service
The Medical and Nursing Advisory Service to local
industry.
It is convenient to describe the occupational health
facilities provided by the Unit under these headings.
The Staff Health Service
The aim of a Staff Health Service is to preserve and
promote the health of all workers. Hounslow Borough has
a staff of 8,600 full-time and part-time employees. There
are more than 50 different occupations, some have specific
occupational hazards such as nurses, building workers,
sewermen and engineering staff. The health of these
employees is catered for by providing the following
facilities:
Personal Health
Accident prevention and treatment. Medical assessment,
examination and counselling of new entrants to the
Council's service. Follow up medical examinations and
advising members of staff in service. The medical
examination, counselling and rehabilitation of disabled
workers and also of staff returning to duty after prolonged
illness. The medical supervision of certain workers whose
occupations may cause disease. An extension of the medical
examination and advisory aspect of the service to include
medical checks for people and advice with a view to
preventing chest disease, heart disease, thromboses and high
blood pressure.
Weekly clinics for treating minor ailments, giving
vaccinations and carrying out surgical dressings when
necessary.
A First Aid Service for offices and works and a training
scheme for first aiders to British Red Cr0ss primary
examination standard.
The investigation of toxic and other health hazards
occurring in the depots, workshops and offices of the
Council. Advice is given to departmental heads so that
they can take action to make the working environment of
their staff as safe and congenial as possible. A yearly survey
of toxic substances used by employees in the Council's
service was carried out. Observation of operatives carrying
out their work from the ergonomic and toxicological point
of view. A continuous look-out was kept for cancer
producing chemicals.
Health Counselling
A Staff Health Service should be preventive in outlook.
In order to prevent occupational diseases occurring it is
necessary to communicate certain health principles to
people. This was carried out by individual counselling
and by staff health circulars, also by talks illustrated by
films and slides on occupational health subjects such as:
The care of the spine and prevention of back strain.
Diet, obesity and disease.
Accident prevention.
Resuscitation of the injured person.
Two first aid courses for members of staff were organised
during the year in the spring and autumn. 31 candidates sat
the British Red Cross examination and all obtained the
primary certificate of competence. Special one day courses
in first aid for Parks' Department employees of the London
Boroughs of Ealing, Richmond, Hillingdon, Harrow and
Hounslow were organised at the Gunnersbury Park Centre
in February 1971 and 75 members of staff attended these
courses.
Lectures on occupational medical subjects were given to
doctors studying at the Royal Institute of Public Health and
Hygiene and also to senior nurses studying at Chiswick
Polytechnic. A group of nurses working for the
Occupational Health Nursing Certificate at the Royal
College of Nursing visited the Unit in October.
There has been a steady rise in the number of staff
medical consultations over the past four years with a
considerable increase (188) in 1971. This shows that the
service is being increasingly used by members of staff.
The Student Health Service
Student Health Services can be considered to be
occupational health services with a psychological
orientation. Hence there is a higher proportion of
counselling work carried out for students than for other
occupations. However it must be remembered that the
clinical and environmental aspects of the service play an
important part in preserving and promoting student health.
The Service continued to care for a rising number of full
and part-time students at Chiswick and Isleworth
Polytechnic Colleges. The service was extended to Maria
Grey College of Education on an advisory basis in 1971.
Apart from the annual lectures to parents and students
given by the doctor, the nurse took groups of students for
discussions on health matters.
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