What is the purpose of occupational health?

The Inter-company Centre for Occupational Medicine and Occupational Health (CIAMT), a non-profit association, has existed since 1953. It is approved by the Ministry of Labour, Law 1901. Its area of ​​action is Paris and the Paris region. 

The CIAMT is headed by a president, myself in this case, and a board made up of representatives from each of the member companies. The association has 30 occupational health centers and 6 mobile units operating throughout its service area. More than 350 people work with the CIAMT to help it achieve its objectives.

What is CIAMT?

The CIAMT carries out various activities: training courses, conferences, and information and awareness sessions. The Centre’s reputation is well established, but as president, I wish to see it evolve and increase its popularity by modifying the actions undertaken to date.

Philippe Goj, what is your role as president of CIAMT?

During my term as president, I want to evolve the role of occupational medicine in workers’ health. Since its inception, occupational medicine has focused on mandatory medical check-ups for workers, disease screening, and issuing fitness-for-work certificates. Since 2017, a reform of occupational medicine has aimed to shift its focus more towards prevention. That’s why I want to encourage companies to move in this direction and anticipate mental and other illnesses. To this end, I am implementing awareness, information, and training sessions for employers and employees. I have complete confidence in employers to implement concrete measures that ensure the well-being of their employees and thus prevent illness. Regular breaks, improved communication within the company , and the availability of certain tools are the key measures of this strategy. Currently, in the Paris region, 30,000 companies have joined the CIAMT and adopted its reforms. These good results encourage me to continue in order to rally the remaining companies to my cause.

Philippe Goj, can you tell us how health services are supporting businesses during the current pandemic?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, all occupational health services have been obligated to fulfill their public interest commitments by carrying out the missions incumbent upon them as mentioned in Article L.4622-2 of the Labor Code: 

• supporting employers during their risk assessment;
• to participate in containing the coronavirus epidemic through screening for people who may be infected;
• to prevent employees from becoming disengaged from employment;
• establish monitoring of employee health status, knowing that visits postponed due to the pandemic must be carried out before December 31, 2021.

What measures are in place to monitor the health of employees following the pandemic?

Specific procedures have been put in place regarding return-to-work medical examinations to take into account the risks faced by workers. The occupational physician has the right to postpone certain return-to-work examinations without this postponement hindering the return to work. However, these rules are subject to certain limitations: