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What are the functions of the Medical
Services?
The function of the Medical Services is Health
Vigilance, a concept that includes the con-
trol and monitoring of workers’ to detect any
signs of work-related diseases and to take
measures to reduce the probability of harm
or subsequent changes in the state of health.
To do this, we implement the three following
essential measures:
•
Health Vigilance, individually or collec-
tively, through check-ups (initial, pe-
riodic, at the request of the interested
party and/or management), epidemio-
logical studies, vaccine programs, etc.
•
Handling of work accidents, job-related
diseases. We are authorised by the So-
cial Security System to treat these pro-
cesses at their source until the patient
is cured and goes back to work or, if
applicable, propose disability.
•
Promoting health at work and in day-
to-day life through campaigns such
as for preventing cardiovascular risks,
promoting healthy diets, physical
exercise, and abandoning toxic habits
(tobacco and alcohol). It is worth men-
tioning that we are currently involved
Interview
Director of Occupational Health - Medical Services, Spain
in securing the Healthy Company cer-
tificate for our different business areas.
What are the benefits for the Company?
The main benefit is being able to adapt the
job to the psycho-physical aptitudes of the
worker, thereby complying strictly with the
Act on the Prevention of Occupational Ha-
zards; the company is aware of immediately
and up-to-date on the health condition of
its workers and of all the factors that could
have a negative impact on their health. We
should not forget that Company’s main
assets are its workers and, therefore, we
have the obligation of implementing all the
measures necessary for preserving and for
promoting their health.
What are the benefits for workers of
the Medical Services?
It is a well-known fact that, since the “Ka-
roshi” effect in Japan due to the excessive
work of Japanese executives, back pain
suffered by personnel, the silicosis of mi-
ners, few factors have had such a negative
impact on a company’s productivity and
competitiveness than the lack of safety and
health at the workplace, resulting in acci-
dents, illness, tiredness, stress, and absen-
teeism.
Undoubtedly, our workers’ easy access
to the Medical Services in the case of any
eventuality or professional contingency
has a great impact on the prevention and
treatment of diverse pathologies that could
have a negative effect on our health.
Our Medical Services feature excellent ma-
terial resources and medical personnel that
Doctor Rafael Echevarria
allow us to successfully handle all inciden-
ces that could arise. Furthermore, nowa-
days it may be difficult to access the Public
Health System (primary care physicians
and specialists) and, therefore, our profes-
sionals have a great field of action and can
offer a wide range of services, facilitating
check-ups, consultations, X-ray studies,
tests, and physiotherapeutic and rehabilita-
tion treatments.