An ordinance published in early December extends the competences of occupational health services (OHS) as part of the fight against the spread of Covid-19.
This ordinance re-establishes, by adapting them, the measures provided for by the ordinance of April 1, 2020 concerning the conditions of exercise by the occupational health services of their missions and in particular the monitoring of the state of health of employees. It provides for occupational health services to participate in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, in particular by:
- dissemination of prevention messages against the risk of contagion to employers and employees;
- support for businesses in defining and implementing preventive measures and in adapting their work organization to the effects of the health crisis;
- participation in screening operations and vaccination actions.
Thus, the occupational physician and other health professionals in the occupational health services can order and perform tests for SARS-CoV-2. These measures are applicable until April 16, 2021.
In addition, the medical visits planned as part of the monitoring of the workers’ state of health may be postponed, within a certain period, unless the occupational physician considers them essential. This postponement is also applied to medical visits already postponed due to the first epidemic wave and which could not be carried out on December 4, 2020. The postponement of the visit does not preclude hiring or resuming work of the employee.
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