Current occupational health policy issues for universities in the United Kingdom

Universities are large organisations with diverse occupational hazards and some unusual features as employers. They need expert professional advice for generalist managers on occupational health matters and they need specialist services such as immunisations for medical students and respiratory health surveillance for staff and students whose research involves the use of animals. We have reviewed these varied occupational health needs in detail in a separate paper (Venables and Allender 2006). Universities need an occupational health response which is proportionate to their needs.