The Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) has just released their newly updated flagship publication ‘Ethics Guidance for Occupational Health Practice’. Now in is 9th edition, the guide continues to support practitioners across every facet of occupational health advice and service delivery by underpinning ethical, impartial assessment and advice on health and work.

The first edition of the FOM Ethics Guidance for Occupational Health Practice was published in 1980, soon after the Faculty was formed. This and subsequent editions have supported generations of colleagues with clear and practical guidance, reflecting the FOM’s dual obligations to workers and to those who commission their services.

Now, for the first time, the new guide is available in an online format and is free of charge, making it more widely accessible, easier to navigate and can be more readily updated as the landscape of occupational health practice continues to evolve.

The new guidance is the result of an eight-month review by the FOM Ethics Committee, chaired by Hilary Winch. The guidance has been approved by the FOM Board, with input from employment lawyers, lay members of the FOM Board (representing employers and workers respectively), ex-officio members and allied health professionals, nursing and medical members.

Commenting on the new guidance, FOM President Dr Robin Cordell said “I should like to thank Hilary Winch and all members of the ethics committee for their excellent work, and I am delighted that the new free digital format opens our guidance to a broad range of people with an interest in occupational health practice. Being open access online, this brings benefit to workers, managers and HR professionals as well as work and health professionals through improved understanding of ethics in work and health practice and its importance.”

The new guidance can be viewed here.