ADOSH-SF Code of Practice 10.0 - Rehabilitation and Return to Work

Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and
Health System Framework
(ADOSH-SF)
Code of Practice
CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0
July 2024

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency ........................................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements .................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 5
3.2 Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Program .............................................................................. 6
3.3 Provision of Suitable Duties ............................................................................................................. 6
4. References ....................................................................................................................................................... 7
5. Document Amendment Record ................................................................................................................. 8

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) mandates the requirements of Abu Dhabi Public Health
Centre (ADPHC) and Sector Regulatory Authorities within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
and applies to all private and Governmental Entities operating under these Sector
Regulatory Authorities within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
(b) This CoP mandates the requirements for workplace rehabilitation and return-to-work
to ensure that employees receive the appropriate treatment and benefits, including
assistance in returning to their normal duties after a workplace injury, disorder or
disease.
(c) Workplace rehabilitation is defined as a managed process involving early intervention
with appropriate and timely services based on assessed needs and which is aimed at
maintaining injured or ill employees in, or returning them to, suitable employment. It
is seen as a system in which the person of primary importance is the injured or ill
employee and that every reasonable attempt is made to return the employee from
injury and/or illness to their pre-injury state.
(d) The requirements of this CoP will be implemented in a phased approach, based on the
availability of registered training providers and suitable training courses within the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that OSH training complies with the requirements of:
(i)
ADOSH-SF – Element 5 – Training, Awareness and Competency;
(ii)
ADOSH-SF – Mechanism 7.0 – Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner
and Service Provider Registration.
(b) Employers shall nominate appropriate personnel as Return-to-Work Coordinator(s) to
implement the Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Program / Procedure(s).
(c) Employees shall receive Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work training as soon as
reasonably practicable after being nominated and accepting the role.
(d) Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work training program shall include as a minimum the
following:
(i) The role of a return to work coordinator;
(ii) Roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders (Inc. medical practitioners);
(iii) Understanding common injuries and medical terminology;
(iv) Development of rehabilitation plans;
(v) How to determine the needs of injured staff;
(vi) How to facilitate the return to work; and
(vii) Communication internally and externally regarding return to work processes.

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Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.1 Employers
(a) Employers shall undertake their roles and responsibilities in accordance with the
general requirements of
ADOSH-SF – Element 1 – Roles, Responsibilities and Self-
Regulation Section 3.2.5
(b) Employers shall perform a risk assessment in accordance with
ADOSH-SF – Element 2
– Risk Management to determine the risks associated with employees returning to
work and/or undergoing rehabilitation and ensure that appropriate control measures
are implemented to mitigate hazards to ALARP level.
(c) Employers with a workforce of 1,000 employees or more shall allocate responsibility
to a competent employee for Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Coordinator. For less
than 1000 employees based on risk assessment, Employers in high-risk industries (e.g.
demolition, construction, foundry, ship building, ship repair, etc.) shall have a
Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Coordinator on staff if they have 250 employees
or more.
(d) Employers shall ensure that if the entity outsources the Rehabilitation and Return to
Work Program, the contracted personnel managing the program meet the training
requirements of Section 2 of this CoP.
(e) Employers shall develop and implement a Rehabilitation and Return to Work Program,
that at a minimum, meets the requirements of Section 3.2 of the CoP.
3.1.2 Rehabilitation and Return-To-Work Coordinator
(a) Shall initiate early communication with an injured or ill employee to clarify the nature
and severity of the employee’s injury, disorder or disease, and to compile initial
notification information.
(b) Shall provide overall coordination for the employee’s return to work.
(c) Shall identify suitable duties as part of the rehabilitation and return to work plan in
consultation with the employee, supervisor and medical professional treating the
employee.
(d) Shall liaise with:
(i) any person engaged by the employer to help in the employee’s rehabilitation
and return to work;
(ii) the insurer about the employee’s progress and indicating, as early as reasonably
practicable, if there is a need for the insurer to assist or intervene; and
(iii) the Medical Board of the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi for medical assessment
for sick leave attestation and compensation for disabilities.

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3.2 Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Program
(a) The Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Program / Procedure(s) shall:
(i) be approved by the senior management;
(ii) be clear and able to be easily understood by all employees;
(iii) include an insurance policy with a licensed health insurance provider covering
workplace injuries, disorders and diseases for all their employees, or have a
company policy to cover all costs directly;
(iv) include a process for notifying the Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work
Coordinator when injury/illness occur in the workplace;
(v) include a process for making early contact with the injured employee and the
treating medical practitioner;
(vi) interaction with the treating medical practitioner(s);
(vii) roles and responsibilities of the rehabilitation and return-to-work coordinator;
(viii) roles and responsibilities of managers / supervisors / co-employees;
(ix) process for determining suitable duties;
(x) grievance procedures;
(xi) ensure appropriate communication of the program / procedure(s) to all
employees;
(xii) include a procedure for referring to the Medical Board of the Department of
Health – Abu Dhabi those cases where workplace injuries, disorders or diseases
are likely to result in a disability, or have led to disability or death; and
(xiii) include a process to ensure injured employee are not dismissed from
employment solely or mainly because of their injury, as per Ministry of Human
Resources and Emiratisation regulations pursuant to Federal Law No (33) of
2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship.
3.3 Provision of Suitable Duties
(a) Employers shall provide suitable duties to employees during rehabilitation and return-
to-work.
(b) Suitable duties (also known as light or alternative duties) shall be utilized when an
injured employee can perform some duties but cannot perform all of their normal day-
to-day duties.
(c) Suitable duties shall be meaningful tasks selected from the injured employee’s normal
task or another comparable role.
(d) Suitable duties shall be agreed between the employee and the employer and shall
take into account the employee’s normal job, age, education and training, work
experience, the nature of the injury, restrictions and other information on the medical
certificate.
(e) Employers shall take all reasonable steps to assist or provide the employee with their
rehabilitation and return-to-work.

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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4. References
•
Employee’s Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. Queensland, Australia.
Available
at:
http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/legisltn/current/w/employeescompa03.pdf
•
Employee’s Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2003. Queensland,
Australia.
Available
at:
http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/current/W/EmployeesCompR03.pdf
•
Australia National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, NOHSC: 302 1,
1995

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Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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5. Document Amendment Record
Version Revision Date Description of Amendment
Page/s Affected
4.0
15 th July 2024
System acronym updated from OSHAD-SF
to ADOSH-SF to accurately reflect
document title
Throughout
Change from OSHAD to ADPHC
Change of Logo
Change from HAAD to DOH
Minor editorial changes throughout the
document without changing requirements.
Title of Mechanism 7.0 updated to ADOSH-
SF – Mechanism 7– Public and Preventive
Health Practitioner and Service Provider
Accreditation
OSHAD-SF - Mechanism 8.0 - OSH
Practitioner Registration deleted

ADOSH-SF – Codes of Practice - CoP 10.0 – Rehabilitation and Return to Work
Version 4.0 – 15 th July 2024
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