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The role of occupational health in injury claims, your recovery and return to work

By Chris Salmon | Updated: September 27, 2025

After a workplace accident, occupational health services often play a key role in both your recovery and any claim you make. Occupational health professionals assess how your injury affects your ability to work and what support you need to return safely. Their reports can also provide important evidence in compensation or benefit claims.

What is occupational health?

Occupational health is a specialist area of healthcare that looks at the relationship between work and health. It aims to prevent work-related illness and injury, help workers recover, and ensure a safe working environment. Services may be provided directly by an employer, through the NHS, or by private providers.

Why occupational health matters after an accident

Following an injury, occupational health can:

• Assess whether you are fit to continue working or need time off.
• Recommend reasonable adjustments to your duties or workplace.
• Support your phased return to work after a period of sickness absence.
• Identify the need for further medical treatment, therapy, or specialist assessments.

The role in your injury claim

Occupational health reports provide evidence that links your injury to the impact it has on your ability to work. This is particularly useful when pursuing a personal injury claim, as it supports:

• Evidence of loss of earnings if you cannot work or must reduce your hours.
• Proof of the long-term impact of your injury.
• Confirmation of adjustments needed for you to work safely again.

How occupational health supports your recovery

Beyond the legal side, occupational health helps you personally by focusing on rehabilitation. This may include:

• Physiotherapy or counselling referrals.
• Return-to-work plans tailored to your condition.
• Monitoring your recovery to make sure adjustments remain effective.

Real-world example

A delivery driver injured his shoulder while lifting heavy goods. Occupational health arranged a phased return to work, starting with lighter duties and shorter shifts. The report also supported his compensation claim by confirming that his injury prevented him from doing heavy lifting for several months.

What to expect from an occupational health assessment

During an assessment, you may be asked about:

• Your job role and daily tasks.
• The impact of your injury on these tasks.
• Any pain, fatigue, or limitations you experience.
• Your medical history and treatment progress.

The occupational health professional will then prepare a report for your employer, setting out recommendations.

Your employer’s responsibilities

If your employer receives recommendations from occupational health, they must take these into account. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers may be required to make reasonable adjustments to your working conditions. Failing to act could affect your wellbeing and potentially breach employment law.

About the author

Chris Salmon is a legal commentator and co-founder of Quittance Legal Services. He has written extensively about workplace accidents, employment rights and the claims process. Chris's work has been cited in national media and he regularly contributes practical guidance to help injured workers understand their options.

More about Chris and WAAC

Last reviewed September 2025 by Chris Salmon

Have you been injured at work?

If you have been injured at work in the last 3 years, you may be able to claim financial compensation.

Find out more about making a work accident claim:

• Do you qualify?
• How much compensation could you get?
• How does No Win, No Fee work?

Read more: Work accident claim guide