A questionnaire study on improving occupational safety and health services provided by part-time industrial physicians

In order to evaluate factors improving part-time industrial physicians' services, a questionnaire study on occupational safety and health services was conducted on 237 part-time industrial physicians (PIPs) and 628 enterprises in Kochi. PIPs who received physician's fees visited enterprises and consulted with employees about their health conditions, communicated with employers and licensed occupational health supervisors (LOHSs) in enterprises more frequently than PIPs who did not receive physician's fees (p < 0.1-0.001). The rates of performing regular duties related on occupational safety and health, and PIPs' participations in health promotion programs and health consultations with employees among enterprises which paid physician's fees were significantly higher than those among enterprises which did not pay physician's fees (p < 0.05-0.001). Significantly higher rates of health consultation with employees and communications with employers and LOHSs, participation in occupational safety and health committees, recommendations of health promotion programs were found where physicians visited enterprises frequently(p < 0.1-0.01). Although no significant changes in PIPs' occupational safety and health services were observed for hazardous risk factors in enterprises, the rates of performing regular duties on occupational safety and health, and walk-through inspections by LOHSs and PIPs, estimating PIPs' advice and suggestions in enterprises with hazardous risk factors were significantly higher than those in enterprises without hazardous risk factors (p < 0.05-0.001). It is important for PIPs to have a written contract concerning physicians' fees and occupational safety and health services with enterprises and visit enterprises frequently in order to improve PIPs' occupational safety and health services and promote occupational safety and health programs in enterprises.