Occupational Clinic

The Evolution of Occupational Health and the Specialised Clinics

While most people may assume, and be correct in their belief, that the concept of an occupational health clinic is a comparatively new one, the fact that workers can be adversely affected by their jobs or by their working environment has been known for centuries. It is recorded that the early physicians of ancient Egypt first associated the diseases commonly encountered among slaves with their maltreatment by supervisors and the condition under which they were required to work and live.

The Greek physician Hippocrates and Pliny of Rome were aware of the dangers to those working with sulphur, lead and mercury, and described the symptoms of poisoning by these substances in great detail. Nevertheless, although the upper classes and even gladiators were afforded access to the best medical attention available in those times, the same treatment was not extended to manual workers, as they were more readily replaced.

As early as the 15th century, observations were published regarding respiratory disease among miners and referred to “the dust that eats away the lungs”. Despite drawing attention to this form of occupational disease, no clinic was established to investigate or to treat these conditions, although the literature did suggest that the use of masks might provide a means with which to minimise dust inhalation.

These and subsequent findings continued to be met with academic interest, but spurred little significant action, even among the world’s most industrialised nations, until the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. At this time, it was the victims of lung disease, such as silicosis and pneumoconiosis in the US, who became the first to come under the scrutiny and receive the attention of government health services. Given our nation’s dependence upon the mining industry, South Africa was quick to recognise the importance of monitoring the health of its mine workers.

It soon became apparent that not just mining but, to some extent, most occupations present various potential threats to the health of employees. This has since led to the establishment of a new specialist medical qualification in occupational health with its emphasis on identifying and minimising these threats and monitoring employees’ health.

Today, the role of these specialists is to perform medical examinations and physiological tests in specially-equipped premises, and the examinations that they conduct are designed to fulfil a variety of needs on behalf of employers and employees. They may be used to assess the fitness of prospective employees, or for those returning to work after an illness or injury , as well as for the periodic, precautionary monitoring of all employees. The latter is especially for those who are required to work in potentially hazardous conditions.

Offering a broad range of occupational health services in South Africa, in addition to operating from sophisticated clinic facilities in Kempton Park, FITMed24 also offers the option to examine employees on site via a fleet of mobile units. The latter option is especially useful for larger operations where there is a need to minimise interruptions to production.

Specialising in the needs of the mining, construction and aviation industries, as well as food handlers and heavy plant operators, we offer examinations tailored to their specific needs and conducted by experienced, registered occupational health doctors and nurses.