Customer Reviews:
 Mostly good but some obvious deficiencies October 20, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Although a largely useful reference, the chapters are of variable quality and 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 encountered in practice. What information there is on CFS is contradictory and hence somewhat unhelpful to the reader. However a useful resource nevertheless, and a book that all involved in Occupational Medicine should have available to them.
fitness for work December 8, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
good and informative, without being exhausting. makes good study book and relevant to occupation. focused and clearly written. the only flaw may be not including pictures.
How To Be Healthy Though Working January 31, 2002
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This substantial book contains a wealth of useful information on matters of concern to employees and employers. It would be an excellent acquisition for any workplace
fortunate enough to possess a library, and ideally should be widely available for consultation as the need may arise. Certainly Personnel, Health and Safety, and Welfare specialists as well as rank-and-file workers might have occasion to refer to it from time to time. Its coverage is extensive and 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 applies in Scotland in the same way), statute law, and European directives. Employers have a common law duty of reasonable care, and are required to guard against reasonably foreseeable risks, while employees need to take reasonable care and cooperate with safety measures. Chapter 3 expounds the specific provisions and consequences for employers and 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 and 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 and the OP's own as a doctor, and he/she should strive to influence the company in this regard.
The important topic of stress is dealt with in Chapter 7, 'Psychiatric Disorders', the working definition of a stressful situation being one of disparity between the demands made on a worker and his/her ability to respond, where the worker has little or no control, and 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 assessed in the way accepted as appropriate for physical, chemical and biological hazards; a participative approach is advocated in preference to an autocratic style of management. Chapters 11, on Spinal Disorders, and 25 on Alcohol and Drug Misuse, are like the rest of the book very competently presented, and would be good to have on hand to refer to in case of need. In a final Chapter, 27, the topic is an increasingly high-profile one, 'Work and the Older Employee'. Information and advice is given on healthy ageing and 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 and at all levels should be appreciated and encouraged in a way that does them no harm. Half a dozen appendices, references, address list and index add further use-value to this hefty and worthwhile tome.
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