UEMS represents national associations of medical specialists. There are 37 Specialist Sections.

Occupational Medicine (OM) is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries occurring at work or in specific occupations.

The UEMS section of OM was initiated in 1997, and today has representation from most European countries.

The mission of the OM Section is to promote the development of the speciality of Occupational Medicine in Europe with the aim to improve the health of the workers.

This would be achieved by:

• supporting and defending the role of OM in society with the aim to promote the health of workers
• influencing EU legislators
• collaborating with appropriate institutions
• ensuring the quality of training and professional practice, and
• identifying and taking action on common issues

The history of the speciality

In 1910 the first Occupational Medicine clinic (Clinica del Lavoro) was founded in Milan with the endeavour of promoting scientific research, training practitioners and offering care to workers.

Competencies of Occupational Physicians Competence encompasses a range of abilities and skills contained principally in three domains; skill, knowledge, and attitude. A document describing the scope and competencies for occupational medicine in Europe has been available since 2000. Since its publication, research indicates that there is consensus among Occupational Physicians in Europe regarding training requirements and resultant competencies. The UEMS endorses a competence -based approach to medical education. In some countries, it has become a feature of most stages of medical training and is part of examining a doctor’s performance.