Occupational health

[doorwoman]

Hi,
So I've injured my back at work and I took some time off and I went to occupational health to return to work. I've been back a couple of months on restricted duties. I'm coming to the end of the time recommended by occupational health to be on restricted duties but I'm no better. I'm still under physio and I've been to my doctors a few times. I am still taking regular pain meds.
I went back to occupational health hoping they would sign me off for a couple more months as I'm just not fit to do full duties. Instead they wrote a report which allows my bosses to decide what they do. They are severely short staffed so they have asked me to work weekends but with special conditions (there will be a person to help me move any heavy equipment and I will only do half days) I agreed as I'm loosing a lot of money in overtime and I want to help out and be a good employee.
But when my boss gave me some shifts they were 12 hours long and I'm supposed to find someone to 'help' cover the other half of the shift. I doubt anyone will want to help me as everyone is so overworked and already doing 6 or more days a week. Also, the first shift is next weekend and the second the weekend after which means I'll be working 6 days a week for 2 weeks something I'm not currently use to.
I feel like I've got no support from occupational health and all my bosses want is me to do as much work as possible.
Now I don't know what to do....I did agree to work weekends but not like that....
Thank you for reading my long post. Any help will be gratefully received!

Are you in a union, call them or ACAS. Why are you moving heavy equipment, don't they have to do risk assessments and manual handling assessments. Do they want you to do half days or 12hr shifts. How long have you worked there, have they discussed re deployment.

I don't feel I can go back to my doctor to be signed off at this point as I've been back at work for a couple of months. So they can clearly see I am capable of doing some work. Maybe I should get signed off for stress? I'm not trying to get out of work really, I just don't feel able to do my duties to the full extent. I feel my bosses are just trying to get me to really push myself before I feel ready!!

They haven't risk assessed me but I am due a manual handling assessment.

It's part of my job to use heavy equipment but I've been signed off of doing so until the end of this month. I'm still using large equipment but it's motorised so I am able to move it.

I'm part of a society but I'm not sure if they deal with this sort of thing!

They discussed with me about working weekends and I agreed to try. They said that I should do 6hr shifts to start with as there will be a helper to assist me with any heavy lifting.
However when they contacted me with the shifts, they were 12hrs long and I was told to 'split' them with other staff. This creates a problem as if I can't find someone to help me do the shifts I will be forced into doing them.

What do you mean you are part of a society, is it a professional body, they should have a union or ACAS will help. If they agreed 6 he shifts you need to find out if they can change this to 12hrs and if it's your responsibility to find cover, I doubt it is though. I would ask to see off health again, with a note feom your Dr and physio outlining exactly what duties you can do and I am surprised off health haven't risk assessed you, you will need to declare a back problem on your manual handling training course.

"I don't feel I can go back to my doctor to be signed off at this point as I've been back at work for a couple of months. So they can clearly see I am capable of doing some work"

But that's the whole point. If you are not fit to return to your normal job, a doctor's note is entirely appropriate. Your doctor will do a fit note saying what work you are/are not fit for. This can include specifying that you are fit to work but only shorter shifts.

Agree with @flowery doing light duties isn't the same as a full time return to work.

Would probably also be helpful to ask the Dr how long your recovery should take as most employers would be happier to okay longer light duties if that means you will soon be recovered enough for full duties than if there's a question mark over your long term capability to do your job.

It is a professional body that I belong to which offers indemnity insurance if something goes wrong at work but that's about all I know about it. Maybe I should look if they can advise me too.

It seems that occupational health just talk to me and find out what I can or can't do. They haven't examined me at all. And they only seem to send my bosses recommendations which they HAVE to follow. But coz the recommendations this time was for them to decide the restrictions they are pushing for me to get back full duties.

I also was told when I came back to work that they are not insured if I work out of hours (basically this is when I do my overtime which I've not been doing) coz I'm not at my full capacity. But now they are willing to let me work!

My work want me to go back to my doctor to see if I can get an mri scan to see the extent of the damage. I told them I have tried this before but was told I don't need to be scanned. But they still want me to try so I've booked an appointment.

I forgot that the doctor can also write recommendations on the fit note. I was thinking they could only sign me off. Maybe when I attend my appointment I can ask them if they can do a note.

You're right....full duties is very different to what I'm doing now. At the moment there are days where I can barely get through the day so I don't know how I will cope with more work in areas that I have heavy lifting to do.

Remember that OH work for your employer, so of course they really want you back at work if at all possible.

Your GP, on the other hand, is on your side. Get him/her fighting your corner to protect your own health.