Compliance & Safety
Occupational Health Centre (OHC)
An Occupational Health Centre (OHC) is an on-site medical facility at a workplace for first aid, emergencies, health checks and work-related care.
What is an Occupational Health Centre?
An Occupational Health Centre (OHC) is a medical facility located at or near a workplace, staffed by trained medical professionals, that looks after employee health in the context of their work. It is common in factories, plants, warehouses, large campuses and other sites where work-related health risks exist.
An OHC typically provides:
- First aid and emergency care, with stabilisation and ambulance coordination for hospital transfer
- Pre-employment and periodic medical examinations, including tests linked to job-specific exposures
- Treatment of minor illnesses and injuries during working hours
- Health records for employees, kept confidentially
- Fitness assessments, for example return-to-work after illness or fitness for specific tasks
- Health education on topics such as hearing protection, ergonomics, heat stress and lifestyle diseases
Under India's factory laws and the rules framed by states, factories carrying out hazardous processes or employing large numbers of workers may be required to maintain an OHC with qualified medical staff. With the OSH Code, 2020 consolidating these laws, exact requirements depend on central and state rules, so employers should confirm what applies to each site with counsel.
Why it matters for employers
An OHC is often the first line of response when something goes wrong on site. Quick, competent first aid can make a real difference to outcomes in an emergency. Beyond compliance, a well-run OHC can:
- Reduce time lost travelling to outside clinics for minor issues
- Spot early signs of work-related illness through regular monitoring
- Support chronic condition follow-ups, such as blood pressure or blood sugar checks
- Build trust that the employer takes health and safety seriously
Key questions when setting up or reviewing an OHC: staffing across all shifts, emergency equipment and drills, ambulance tie-ups, referral hospitals, record-keeping and privacy.
Example
A plant running three shifts sets up an OHC staffed by a doctor during the day and trained nurses round the clock. When a worker suffers a hand injury at night, the nurse provides first aid, stabilises him and coordinates an ambulance to a nearby hospital. The OHC later manages his dressing changes and certifies his fitness to return to his role.
Key takeaways
- An OHC delivers on-site first aid, emergency response, health checks and work-related care.
- Hazardous or large workplaces may be legally required to have one; confirm current rules with counsel.
- Round-the-clock coverage, emergency readiness and good records are essential.
- MeWeSalus Care offers onsite clinics and ambulance coordination.