What is Occupational Health Assessment

By the nature of their occupation, first responders witness numerous traumatic events. Most of the time, their training and desire to help others allows them to respond professionally and appropriately. However, there are certain events that, for whatever reason, affect first responders in a more dramatic way, leading to emotional and behavioral changes that affect their interpersonal relationships and occupational functioning. Even if they recognize the need, first responders often are hesitant to reveal their distress and/or seek professional help to superiors, believing that they will be perceived as unfit for duty. In this chapter, the need for administrators to understand and accept the severe impact of traumatic events is discussed. Consistent with the individualized nature of traumatic responses, a tiered strategy of intervention is proposed. Finally, drawing from an occupational health perspective, a model that conceptualizes and responds to exposure to traumatic events as an occupational hazard is discussed.