Statutory occupational healthcare

Under the Occupational Healthcare Act, companies are required to provide occupational healthcare services for their employees regardless of the number of employees, job roles, working hours, or the duration of the employment relationship. Occupational healthcare is voluntary for self-employed entrepreneurs.

The statutory procedures of occupational healthcare consist of a workplace survey (on-site visit), an action plan, and industry-specific health examinations for employees. The employer’s obligations include the following: a written agreement with the occupational healthcare provider, insurance against workplace accidents and occupational diseases, and maintaining occupational safety and first-aid readiness.

Yes, a workplace survey is one of the requirements of statutory preventive occupational healthcare. It is used to evaluate the work, the work community, and the work environment, as well as their impact on health and work ability. The survey is carried out by an occupational healthcare nurse and an occupational healthcare physician.

A workplace survey must be conducted when a company starts its operations, when the nature of the work changes, or when new information is gathered through occupational healthcare services.

The survey must remain up to date, meaning it should be renewed every 3–5 years.

For example, in the construction industry it should be updated at least every three years, while in office-based work every five years is sufficient.

The assessment’s validity is reviewed annually when updating the action plan.

Action plan is a written document created in the collaboration of the employer and the occupational healthcare provider. It defines all occupational healthcare procedures, objectives and practices for a specific company. The plan is based on the workplace survey and guides all occupational healthcare activities.

Medical health examinations are an essential part of occupational healthcare, and their purpose is to prevent health risks caused by work.

Mandatory health examinations are arranged for employees who are exposed to specific health risks at work, such as noise, chemicals, or night shifts, as well as for those in roles where occupational safety requires regular health monitoring. The need, content, and frequency of these examinations are defined in the workplace survey as part of the occupational healthcare action plan.

These examinations are primarily performed by an occupational healthcare nurse. A medical examination by an occupational healthcare physician is required when an employee has symptoms suggesting an occupational disease, has been diagnosed with an occupational illness, or has health conditions that may affect work ability.

Kela reimburses up to 60% of the costs for medical preventive care, in particular, for measures including statutory procedures required by law (Kela I), and up to 50% of employees’ medical care costs (Kela II).

The amount of the reimbursement depends on the number of employees and the form of the company.

Kela reimbursements are paid to self-employed entrepreneurs immediately if the occupational healthcare service provider uses Kela’s direct reimbursement system. Companies receive the reimbursement only after submitting an application to Kela. The application must be submitted within six months after the end of the financial year.

It is important to understand that Kela will not reimburse the full amount of the occupational healthcare package if all actions outlined in the annual occupational healthcare action plan have not been carried out.

The planning of occupational healthcare must be based on an up-to-date workplace survey and the resulting action plan.

Reimbursable expenses must appear in the accounting of the relevant financial year, and the application must be reviewed through workplace cooperation before being submitted to Kela.

At the end of the financial year, we will prepare your annual report for Kela.