SPL06 HEALTH INEQUALITY AND WORK: ADVOCATING FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN IRELAND
Authors: Addley Ken , Healey Zoë 
Published: July 2024

Access to meaningful work is important to enhance lives, reduce health inequity and add value to society. To elevate occupational health (OH) in supporting this, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FOM) developed a strategy to advocate for OH in Ireland. The strategy was launched by the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) in Dublin in November 2022.

Advocating for better OH will assist in reducing the health inequity (including poorer physical and mental health and well-being) associated with unemployment, precarious work, worklessness and social exclusion. This is relevant to and will be of interest to all those who are concerned with the determinants of health inequity both in policy terms and also in taking practical steps to address the issue.

There is strong evidence to show that work is generally good for physical and mental health and well-being. It delivers benefits not just for individuals and businesses but also for communities, the economy and wider society. Employers and workplaces are also key enablers for providing access to work for those with a disability and other health conditions. Employment facilitates access to economic resources that are essential for material well-being and full participation in society. It is central to individual identity, social roles and social status. Within society, employment and socio-economic status are the main drivers of social gradients in physical and mental health and mortality.

Occupational health is uniquely placed to provide support to policy makers, employers, businesses, and workers. It plays an important role in supporting employers to maintain and promote employee health and wellbeing through assessments of fitness for work, advice about reasonable adjustments, work ability or return to work plans, and signposting to treatment for specific conditions. Occupational health input can also assist with access to work and retention in work for those with chronic health conditions, disability and severe injuries. Occupational health can help people support themselves, increasing their earning capacity, dignity, self-esteem and lifespan; businesses improve productivity, decrease medical costs and improve their corporate image; and society benefit from local competitiveness, improved public health and reduced inequalities.

Evolving models of work and the recent pandemic highlighted the need for, and value of OH with an imperative to promote evidence-based practice and services. Improved access to work is valuable to individuals, business and society, and requires universal access to quality accredited OH services which help reduce health inequity. Four key objectives were developed in the strategy to achieve these benefits: recognition of timely need for OH evaluation; Increased awareness of OH value; increased FOM representation in OH advocacy and, action towards universal OH access.

In conclusion, there are economic, social and moral arguments that suggest work is the most effective way to improve the well-being of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live. A call to action was issued to those who can support OH in Ireland to join together in a move towards universal access and thereby protect workers and drive down health inequity.