OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH CARE AND WORK INCAPACITY - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS INTHE NETHERLANDS

Due to political priorities and benefit arrangements, prevention of wo rk incapacity has played a minor role in employers' policies in the Ne therlands. However, the comparatively high sickness absence rates and large numbers of disability benefit recipients in the Netherlands have fostered preventive policies and measures regarding unfavourable work ing conditions. Corresponding to recent changes in legislation, the ro le of occupational health and safety services will substantially incre ase in the coming years. Part of the new orientation will be a multi-d isciplinary staff structure and more attention to tailor-made services and effectiveness. There is much debate about the precise role for oc cupational physicians in the control of sickness absenteeism in compan ies. This paper presents several instruments which are now being appli ed or which are still in a developmental stage. The issues of preventi on of sickness absence and monitoring of long-term sick employees will remain a substantial part of the responsibilities of occupational hea lth and safety services.