Customer Reviews
Mostly good but some obvious deficiencies - By: Jonathan Reed, 20 Oct 2007 
Although a largely useful reference, the chapters are of variable quality & don't always address issues that are of most value to practicing OPs. The most notable lack is a chapter dedicated to CFS or other similarly difficult diseases that are commonly encounteredin practice. What information there is on CFS is contradictory & hence somewhat unhelpful to the reader. However a useful resource nevertheless, & a book that all involvedin Occupational Medicine should have available to them.
fitness for work - By: c ebanks, 08 Dec 2004 good & informative, without being exhausting. makes good study book & relevant to occupation. focused & clearly written. the only flaw may be not including pictures.
How To Be Healthy Though Working - By: , 30 Jan 2002 This substantial book contains a wealth of useful information on matters of concern to employees & employers. It would be an excellent acquisition for any workplace
fortunate enough to possess a library, & ideally should be widely available for consultation as the need may arise. Certainly Personnel, Health & Safety, & Welfare specialists as well as rank-and-file workers might have occasion to refer to it from time to time. Its coverage is extensive & authoritative - there are nearly 30 chapters by different expert authors. A few highlights may give a flavour of the work.
In Chapter 2 'Legal Aspects', readers are reminded of provisions under common law (in England, but Employment protection law appliesin Scotlandin the same way), statute law, & European directives. Employers have a common law duty of reasonable care, & are required to guard against reasonably foreseeable risks, while employees need to take reasonable care & cooperate with safety measures. Chapter 3 expounds the specific provisions & consequences for employers & OPs of the Disability Discrimination Act, while Chapter 5 makes the point that the Occupational Physician's (OP) role differs from that of other specialists & GPs, emphasising that whatever conflicts of interest or loyalty may arise, the interests of the individual patient must, ethically, come first. There should be no conflict between the 'business ethics' of the company & the OP's own as a doctor, & he/she should strive to influence the companyin this regard.
The important topic of stress is dealt within Chapter 7, 'Psychiatric Disorders', the working definition of a stressful situation being one of disparity between the demands made on a worker & his/her ability to respond, where the worker has little or no control, & may be actual or perceived. Work-related stressors may be intrinsic to the job, role-related or interpersonal. More generally, the line taken is that the psychological environment should be assessedin the way accepted as appropriate for physical, chemical & biological hazards; a participative approach is advocatedin preference to an autocratic style of management. Chapters 11, on Spinal Disorders, & 25 on Alcohol & Drug Misuse, are like the rest of the book very competently presented, & would be good to have on hand to refer toin case of need. In a final Chapter, 27, the topic is an increasingly high-profile one, 'Work & the Older Employee'. Information & advice is given on healthy ageing & production, with the aim of correcting some of the limitations often imposed on members of this group, stemming from stereotypes that should be challenged, such as the belief that ability/motivation to learn new skills deteriorates with age. The book's overall message might be paraphrased to the effect that the contribution of workers of all kinds & at all levels should be appreciated & encouragedin a way that does them no harm. Half a dozen appendices, references, address list & index add further use-value to this hefty & worthwhile tome.
