SOM OH socials 2025 1.jpg
By Nick Pahl, SOM CEO Today marks the start of Occupational Health Awareness Week 2025! Use the hashtag #OHAW2025 to join the conversation. The week increases awareness of what occupational health (OH) is and the value it provides to workplace health. This year we focus on HR professionals and how…
Rebecca Preece.jpg
Guest blog by Rebecca Preece, Senior Occupational Health Advisor I studied to become a Nurse at Portsmouth University. Our cohort was unique as everyone was serving in the armed forces. We split our time between Portsmouth University, where we could wear civilian clothing, and Fort Blockhouse (in…
Guest blog by Rachel Mitchell, LightAware Charity Marcus was a Management Consultant in a top UK consulting firm, a well-paid and fulfilling career spanning two decades. Despite pursuing a healthy lifestyle and having no existing health conditions, Marcus’ career was ended by the installation of LED…
Picture1.png
Guest blog by Dr Paul J Nicholson The evolving relationship between human and work, from the prehistoric to the present. Eight years have flown by since I was asked to write my first Art and Occupation article, in the Journal, Occupational Medicine. I was daunted by the prospect of following in…
Guest blog by Dr Lara Shemtob The value of occupational health (OH) in the workplace lies in the subject matter expertise that OH clinicians bring to complex and sensitive situations. Making work-related health decisions without the full picture is far from ideal. OH helps bridge that gap through…
Guest blog by Dr Lara Shemtob Occupational health is an evidence-based based service to improve workplace health. Gym discounts, health insurance, counselling services, offsite retreats, and yoga is often seen to be “workplace wellbeing”, but they are not equal when it comes to impact. Employees and…
Guest blog by Maria Paviour, Occupational Psychologist I've been randomly selected for a CPD audit by the HCPC. My first reaction was classic: “Oh great. Why this year? It’s been such a difficult one already - and now this on top!” It felt like one of those overwhelming moments. But, after a couple…
Guest blog by Dr Sanjay Kumar "Once you can do occupational health in the police sector, you can practise occupational health anywhere!" It was these words - uttered by my mentor - that started me on the path to a fascinating and rewarding career in police occupational health. I remember that day…
Guest blog by Richmond Stace, Specialist Pain Physiotherapist & Multidisciplinary Pain Coach This blog explores how we can better support people living with chronic pain - whether they are at work or preparing to return. It is a follow-up to Understand Pain: A New Perspective for Occupational Health…
Guest blog by Janet O'Neill, Deputy Head, National School of Occupational Health At the SOM Quarry Bank Mill workplace visit we were all taken back to an early focus on workforce wellbeing, foresighted compared to most others at the time. During the Industrial Revolution, there were no regulations…
Guest blog by Dr Nupur Yogarajah Why do we do the things we do? That sounds basic, but this human behaviour was not met by my medical degree. Practicing as a GP and developing long-term therapeutic relationships with my patients started to answer this, but not entirely. To answer it, I completed the…
Guest blog by Richmond Stace, Specialist Pain Physiotherapist & Multidisciplinary Pain Coach Chronic pain is the number one global health burden. It affects more people than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. Yet, it remains poorly understood across much of society, including in…