Department of Occupational Health

Service: Occupational Health
Occupational Health is a specialist branch of medicine concerned with the two-way relationship of work and health. Occupational Health aims to promote and maintain the physical and mental well-being of all employees by preventative health measures and health surveillance.

The Occupational Health department provides a service to all of the hospital's staff in relation to work-related health problems and also provides management with advice on all matters concerned with staff health.

The Occupational Health Department provides:

• Immunisation assessment and vaccinations: The Department is responsible for the planning and implementation of immunisation programmes e.g. Hepatitis B, Flu vaccines. The Vaccination Clinic is held every Wednesday morning in Suite 4, Out-Patients Department.


• Occupational Injuries / Accidents: Prevention, assessment, management and follow-up e.g. Occupational Blood Exposure


• Occupational Illnesses: Prevention, assessment, management and follow-up e.g. T.B., Latex related problems.


• Pre-employment Health Assessments: Ensures that staff are capable of carrying out the work for which they have been employed. It also allows the hospital to meet any special needs which may need required.


• Health Surveillance: Includes medical examinations such as pre-employment health assessments and targeted medical testing of staff members exposed to known hazards at work which may pose a potential risk to health e.g. respiratory, skin and musculoskeletal examinations.


• Health Promotion: Health promotion is aimed at increasing awareness of issues which may be damaging to one's health e.g. smoking, alcohol, stress, obesity. Information and education are offered to employees in conjunction with the Health Promotion Co-0rdinator.


• Sickness Absence Review: aims to assist the staff member to recover as soon as possible, by ensuring optimum care is received and to advise management of anticipated length of absence or expected date of return to work. This facilitates the hospital to run with increased efficiency in terms of staffing arrangements.


• Pregnancy Risk Assessments: To protect employee health while pregnant and breastfeeding by assessment of potential hazards in the work environment.

Access to Service:
Referrals are accepted from employees / managers in relation to employee health problems which are work related or affecting the employee's ability to do their work. We offer an open access service to all employees where confidentiality is respected at all times.

How to make an Appointment:
Appointments may be made by contacting Eilish Friel, CNM2 at ext. 6106, bleep 8106 or email: eilish.friel@olhsc.ie
Department Hours:
Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 16:30hrs
Friday 08:00 to 15:30hrs.