Staff, equipment, chart, and program reviews should be performed by either a nurse or a physician. Effective medical treatment programs should have a favorable impact on occupational injury and illness severity rates. Assuring the continuing health of the work force is the ultimate goal of any occupational health program. The occupational health plan should include review of examination results and occupational injury and illness records for trends by an appropriate occupational health professional. These trends should be evaluated with more formal epidemiologic studies as necessary.
Epidemiologic studies range in sophistication, scope, cost, work effort, and reliability of results.
Before starting an epidemiologic study, a manager should be aware of the limitations of these studies and the reasons that they may be necessary. The organization's medical department should be apprised of the concern and its advice and assistance requested. It may also be prudent to involve a public health agency or university consultant to add further expertise and credibility to the effort.