Industrial health services in large plants

An industrial area or a large industry can be most usefully served by setting up an occupational health centre in close co-operation with other health services. This centre should strive to achieve not only the adaptation of the worker to the machine and to the work, but also-and even more important-the adaptation of the machine and the working methods to the physical and mental capacities of men.The industrial medical service has to work in close co-operation with the social services of the plant, but should not be considered as a part of these services, because the programme of the medical department is based on different principles and has different aims. The medical department should be directly under the supervision of the top management. But an industrial health service should not be the exponent of either the management or the worker; it should be based on general medical principles and knowledge. It is very important that the workers should fully support the activities of the medical department, and this can best be achieved by encouraging representatives of the workers to take a special interest in the work and keeping them fully informed about it.The preventive work of an industrial health centre includes pre-employment and periodical medical examinations, job analysis and placement, supervision of environmental conditions, health guidance, health statistics, and co-operation with other health agencies. The therapeutic work includes first aid and accident treatment and, under certain conditions, full medical care of the workers and their families. Experience has shown that the activity of such a centre is of great value to the health of the workers; it is also of great importance to the industry itself, even from the financial point of view.