Health & Safety

First of its type in New Zealand

WorkRehab and Fit

For Work have joined forces to provide the most comprehensive range of occupational health services available from any company in New Zealand.

“This joint venture will greatly benefit Kiwi businesses wanting a single nationwide supplier of integrated occupational health services,” Director Lenny O’Connell says.

“The new company has retained the Fit For Work name because we believe it perfectly describes what we are all about it – providing everything that people need to get them fit for work and life, following an illness or injury,” he says.

A collaborative approach from specialists, encompassing all medical, occupational and legal aspects of managing the health and wellbeing of workers, is one of Fit For Work’s great strengths. It is also the largest independent employer of occupational health physicians in New Zealand.

“Having a truly integrated team approach to our services is what sets us apart,” Director Dr David Beaumont says. “In our clinical team alone, we have medical, nursing, vocational consultants and allied health practitioners working together to offer a truly multi-disciplinary approach. It is international best practice to work like this and provides a much better service to employees and employers.”

“The launch of the new company fits well with the arrival of new Health and Safety legislation,” says O’Connell. “We provide one point of contact for a company’s entire occupational health needs. We can help businesses keep their workforce as well as possible; advise them on any industry specific issues; and assist people to get back to work for the long-term after they been unwell or injured.”

O’Connell’s personal experience in occupational health and rehabilitation spans a broad range of industries from manufacturing and transport to farming, warehousing and trade-related industries.

Fellow director Beaumont is the past president of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is passionate about clinical leadership in developing occupational health in New Zealand to improve the health of the working age population.

“When people of working age aren’t working, they disengage from life including their everyday social connections and their ability to support themselves and their families,” he says.

“It’s not easy getting someone who has been seriously unwell or injured back into work but all the evidence says a team approach is best. We also know that good work will improve a person’s health, relationships with whanau and the community, and of course businesses reap the rewards of better engagement, retention and productivity.”

THE RANGE OF SERVICES OFFERED BY FIT FOR WORK INCLUDES

• Worker health and wellness education. • Workplace assessments and return to work programmes. • Occupational environmental monitoring. • Medical and ‘fitness for work’ testing. • Occupational health monitoring. • Legislative compliance. • Vocational rehabilitation services for both the private sector and ACC. • A consultancy and advisory service for other health professionals. • Pain services. • Employment mentoring and support services.

Fit For Work also looks after all data gathered during its work with companies. This includes information sourced during service delivery; reviews of services; health risk monitoring/trends; and financial information, which are all actively and securely managed through Occupational Health Management software, 2Crisk.

The entire employment cycle from pre-employment through health management, injury management, wellness initiatives and exit medicals can be sorted and managed through this software.

FIT FOR WORK BRANCHES ARE LOCATED IN

• Christchurch (head office) • Ashburton • Timaru • Dunedin • Cromwell • Invercargill • Greymouth • Westport • Motueka • Nelson • Blenheim • Wellington • Kawerau

In addition to its branches, Fit For Work has a network of quality contracted providers throughout New Zealand.