OHG - Occupational Health Group

Welcome

In 1990, Occupational Health Group (OHG) was initiated with the vision to provide high quality occupational health care to business and industry in North Alabama. Over the past 18 years, OHG has provided the highest quality occupational health, workers' compensation injury treatment and wellness services to over 5,000 employers in the North Alabama and Southern Tennessee areas. We are dedicated to quality patient care, employer service, customer satisfaction, and the demand for the comprehensive combination of quality programs customized to meet each employer's unique needs.

Our clinics are built upon the strengths and resources of our expert medical staff. Our physicians are dedicated occupational medicine providers who fully understand occupational health needs and the desire to provide high quality care and service while maintaining costs.

To learn more about how OHG can benefit you and your employees, please take a moment to browse our site. Then contact an OHG representative so we can assist you with the total occupational health of your company.

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Warm Weather Hazards

Employers and workers cope with heat-related work hazards during the summer months. Some of those hazards include heat, direct sun exposure, and Lyme Disease (from ticks). The following is advice taken from the Center for Disease Control and OSHA to help employers and employees be aware of the potential hazards that are a part of working in an outdoor environment in the summer:

SUN (1)
Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts and skin cancer. There are no safe UV rays or safe suntans. Be especially careful in the sun if you burn easily, spend a lot of time outdoors, or have any of the following physical features:

Numerous freckles
Lighter natural skin color
Blonde, red, or light brown hair

Here’s how to block those harmful rays:

Cover up. Wear tightly woven clothing you can’t see through

Use sunscreen. A sun protector factor (SPF) of at least 15 blocks 93% of UV rays. Be sure to follow application directions on the bottle or tube.
Wear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap, works best because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp.
Wear UV-absorbent shades. Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive, but they should be able to block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Before you buy, read the product tag or label.
Limit exposure. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4p.m.

HEAT (2)
The combination of heat and humidity can be a serious health threat during the summer months. If you work at a beach resort, on a farm, or in a kitchen, laundry or bakery, for example, you may be at risk for heat-related illness. So, take precautions. Here’s how:

Drink plenty of water before you get thirsty.
Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing - cotton is good.
Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
Eat smaller meals before work activity.
Avoid caffeine or large amounts of sugar
Find out from your health-care provider if your medications and heat don’t mix.
Know your equipment such as respirators or work suits can increase heat stress.

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/
(2) http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000449/p0000449.asp