The mission of 8th U.S.Army Occupational Health (OH) Service is to promote health and to prevent work-related illness/injuries of military and civilian employees. Education is an integral part of evary objective developed to accomplish
this
mission: Ⅰ. Primary Prevention - promote health and prevent work-related illness/injuries by increasing supervisor/employee awareness of occupational health hazards. A. Organize frequent work site visits with Industrial Hygienist to collect and
analyze
data on occupational illness/injuries to identify patterns and recommend corrective actions regarding management of employees to superviosors and commanders. B. Conduct employee health awareness programs (e.g.health promotion classes or
individual
counseling) where occupational health risks are identified. C. Communicate with Commanders, Safety Officers, Civilian Personnel, and Health Care Providers for effective implementation of OH programs. Ⅱ. Secondary Prevention - identify
illness/injury
patterns and detect disease processes at the earliest possible opportunity. Provide pre-placement and periodic medical surveillance, fitness for duty evaluation, and termination medical exams to employees exposed to occupational health hazards.
These
include Respiratory Protection Program, Hearing Conservation Program, Vision Conservation Program, Communicable Disease Screening, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Pregnancy Surveillance, etc. Ⅲ. Tertiarly Prevention - provide medical evaluation,
treatment,
and
appropriate referral of patients who sustained work-related illness/injuries. OH Nurses, OH medical technician, and medical clerks in each Support Group Area, supported by an OH Nursing Supervisor and an OH medical officer, carry out these
objectives in
a cooperative relationship with the Community Health Nurses and Health Promotion Education Nurses.
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