Jeremy D. Howard, BSN, RN-BC, Director Occupational Health Services

Joyce Ann Combes, RN, MPH Occupational Health Nurse

Josselyn Vargas,​ Secretary

3601 Ferncliff Avenue NW, Roanoke
(540) 853-1436 or (540) 853-1430 Fax (540) 853-1238

Occupational Health is a specialty that considers the effects of work on health. It also considers an individual's health, ability and fitness to perform a particular job. The aim of Occupational Health is health promotion and prevention of work-related illness and injury by:

• ensuring that the employees work does not in any way damage or compromise the employees’ health;

• encouraging safe working practices;

• ergonomics (studying how you work and how you could work better);

• monitoring the health of the workforce;

• supporting the management of sickness absence;

• work with district leadership to implement policies and ensure health and safety compliance;

• conduct pre-employment health assessments;

• support health promotion and education programs;

• provide vaccinations;

• treat workplace injuries;

• manage worker’s compensation cases;

• encourage workers to take responsibility for their own health through health education and disease management programs, such as smoking cessation, exercise/fitness, nutrition and weight control, stress management, control of chronic illnesses and effective use of medical services;

• provide guidance, counselling, and referral advice to employees around non work related health problems;

• fitness for duty surveillance;

• work with leadership to offer advice and guidance around making reasonable adjustments to your working conditions.