Workplace occupational health plans are crucial for employers to protect the health and safety of their employees while remaining compliant with occupational safety and health laws. Employees are entitled to a safe and healthy workplace, free from hazards that may lead to workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities. It is the job of the employer to remove recognizable hazards and to provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), safe and properly working equipment, and the right job training and education. Employers must protect their employees from hazards like dust, fumes, chemicals, extreme heat, noise, biological agents, and other workplace hazardous conditions.
In Durham, occupational health services include vaccinations and titer tests (antibody tests), biometric screenings, physical exams, respiratory health screenings, respirator fit testing, tuberculosis (TB) screenings, TB skin tests, and proper job safety training and education.
Durham occupational health laws include the North Carolina State Plan (NC OSH), an OSHA-approved occupational safety and health plan that covers public- and private-sector employers in Durham and the state of North Carolina, with some exceptions. Federal OSHA covers federal agencies in Durham, including USPS employers and employees, Indian reservations, and military bases. Employers are responsible for understanding federal, North Carolina, and Durham workplace health laws.
The Occupational Health Surveillance Program helps Durham employers by describing work-related health risks and promoting safe workplaces. The program prepares workers with consultations with occupational health nurses, safety professionals, and industry representatives. The program includes acute pesticide illness and injury surveillance, blood lead epidemiology and surveillance, occupational disease and injury reporting, occupational health indicators, occupational health trends, and farm injuries.
