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Health Benefits Of Returning To Work As Soon As Possible After An Injury
A comprehensive new position statement was released by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine called Realising the Health Benefits of Work, was released in June 2010. In the Forward, written by Dame Carol Black National Director for Health and Work, UK, it states "the message is that for most people, work is good for the health and their well being and that loss of work whether because of impaired health or for other reasons is generally harmful". The outcomes of being out of work are plain to see: loss of self esteem, altered sense of identity, as a consequence of one's change in standing in the community, a halt to material progress, reduced social participation and generally a reduction in fulfilment.
Dame Black goes on to comment about unwarranted delays in returning to work delaying recovery, "In most instances we do not have to recover completely before returning to work, provided there is a will and there are means to accommodate the fullest possible restoration of function – physically, mentally and socially".
It is reported that health providers have a clear duty and responsibility to make this happen and key roles to play. The main recommendations to health providers are as follows:
The medical community develop a consensus statement regarding the positive relationship between health and work and the negative consequences of long term work absence and unemployment.
The education of training practitioners to incorporate training and workplace occupational health and vocation rehabilitation and sickness certification practices and that the medical community provides leadership on these issues.
Health professionals responsibly promote the health benefits of work to their patients.
Government obtain and publicise accurate data about the level of working capacity in Australia and New Zealand.
Governments launch public health campaigns, directed at employers, workers, medical practitioners and the general public to promote the image that "work in general is good for health and well being".
Employers move beyond legislative requirements to embrace the spirit of inclusive employment practices workplace safety, health and well being and best practice injury management.
Published in News Link Injury Management 2011
(Full report can be read at http://afoen.racp.edu.au )
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