PERSONAL LEARNING ZONE

Summary:

FEATURED ARTICLE

This issue of Occupational Health [at Work] features a Personal Learning Zone (PLZ) article recommended for continuing professional development (CPD). The assignment questions, ‘Personal learning statement’ and ‘Certificate of engagement’ are available to subscribers at ohaw.co/AWPcpd. These will also be stored in your password-protected PLZ. The PLZ will help you document your own CPD. Occupational health physicians and nurses, occupational hygienists and other professionals can use the resource in support of their specialism’s revalidation or CPD requirements.

Pages 26–32. Accompanying persons in OH consultations. There are various reasons why an employee might request that they be accompanied at an OH consultation, such as by a partner/spouse, friend, union rep, interpreter or employment adviser. In most cases, this can be helpful, but there are risks that the third party.

ADDITIONAL CPD

The following articles, news and research items are suggested reading for CPD and professional revalidation. Subscribers can complete their online Personal Learning Zone CPD record at ohaw.co/AWPcpd

Pages 04-05. Revised standards for the SEQOHS accreditation scheme have been launched and OH professionals should familiarise themselves with the new requirements if they are looking to accredit their service.

Pages 16-18. Workers with disabilities face barriers to disclosing the nature of their condition and may struggle to access the adjustments they need. The Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool is designed to help.

Pages 19-25. Artificial intelligence (AI) could prove a useful resource for OH professionals, with generative AI likely to help in areas such as OH research, record keeping and report writing. But practitioners should be mindful of the limitations and potential risks.

Pages 33-37. Optimum workplace support for pregnant women and new mothers can improve pregnancy outcomes and promote the health and wellbeing of both the mother and child. Good risk assessment is vital.

Pages 38-40. An employer may be justified in deciding not to send a worker with a health condition or disability to a country where there may be additional risks to their health and safety. OH advice is likely to be essential.

Pages 41-42. Our compendium on recent research includes a survey highlighting disabled workers’ experiences and perceptions of OH, a systematic review of studies examining the economic benefits of workplace health interventions, and a study examining the association between exposure to violence at work and the risk of suicide.

Author: The At Work Partnership Ltd

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2023 (vol. 20/2) pp43

Download full article