Accessibility Policy

Relevant Legislation/Documentation and Background

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
  • Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (2005)

There is no specific legislation under which employers are required to provide Occupational Health Services. The University of Portsmouth, however, has a staff of c.2,500 who are exposed to or work with a wide range of workplace hazards e.g. display screen equipment, respiratory sensitizers, heavy loads etc. In order to protect the health of employees, minimise sickness absence and fulfil its obligations under the above Acts, the University of Portsmouth employs an in-house Occupational Health Service. The full range of services provided is outlined in our leaflet entitled ‘Good Health at Work’ (Appendix 1) and is also available on our website:

The Occupational Health Service is clinically led by the full time Occupational Health Adviser (Registered Specialist Community Public Health Nurse) and the 0.2 fte Occupational Health Physician (Associate Fellow in Occupational Health Medicine). They are supported by 1.2 fte Occupational Health Nurses and 1.6 fte secretarial staff.

Arrangements for Implementing Occupational Health Provision

  • The Occupational Health Service is usually available between 08.30 hours and 17.00 hours although arrangements can be made for employees to be seen outside of these times e.g. shift workers.
  • Advice canbe sought by either phone, Email or face to face appointments during the above times.
  • Patients/Managers will usually be seen in the Occupational Health Department but if this is not possible or is inappropriate (e.g. patients who may have social contact with a staff member or who may have a physical or psychological reason for being unable to attend the building/department) then arrangements can be made for either a workplace or home visit. There may also be occasions when it is necessary for successful job applicants, employees or ex-employees to be seen in other parts of the country by an outsourced Occupational Health provider or by the University’s Occupational Health Physician (OHP) at his practice in Drayton.
  • Advice may be given by either the Occupational Health Adviser (OHA) or Occupational Health Nurses (OHN) in the first instance. Appointments with the OHP are following referral by the OHA or OHN’s. Specific requirements of patients (e.g. those who may wish to see a gender/religion specific practitioner) will be met by use of an outsourced OH provider if necessary.
  • Patients can be seen as either a Self or Management Referral. For details of these referral processes please see Appendix 1.
  • The OHS is located on the 3rd floor of the Nuffield Centre. There is lift access for those unable to manage the stairs and individual personal evacuation plans should be implemented for those individuals affected in the event of an emergency evacuation from the building.

Associated Documentation

Records Policy

Confidentiality Policy

Pre-employment Screening Policy

Health Surveillance/Assessment and Advice for specific ‘at risk’ employees Policy

Health Promotion Policy

Review of Policy

This policy will be reviewed annually.

Signature:
Date:
Review Date: