Figure and Table | Current Status and Issues for the Role of Occupational Health Physicians in Japan

Table 1. Expanded Appointment Duties for Employers, and Roles, Authorities and Training Requirements for Occupational Health Physicians in Japan.

From: Current Status and Issues for the Role of Occupational Health Physicians in Japan

Year	Enactments and amendment of acts and ordinances	Appointment duty for employers	Roles	Authorities	Training requirements other than medical license
1938	Amendment of related ordinance of the of Factory Act	A factory physician at factories employing 500 or more workers	Maintaining hygiene Monthly workplace patrols Health checkups
1940	Amendment of related ordinance of the of Factory Act	A factory physician at factories employing 100 or more workers
1947	Enactment of Labor Standards Act	A hygiene manager with medical license at workplaces employing 50 or more workers	Managing hygienic practices in collaboration with non-physician hygiene manager
1972	Enactment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and Ordinance on Industry Safety and Health	One occupational health physician at workplaces regularly employing 50 or more workers and two or more employing more than 3000 workers. Exclusive occupational health physician at workplaces regularly employing 1,000 or making 500 or more workers engaged in designated hazardous works.	Monthly workplace patrols Health checkups Other duties related to the health management of workers	Making recommendations to employers to fulfill their duties based on the Ordinance
1988	Amendment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Ordinance		Monthly workplace patrols Health checkups and face to face guidance based on the results Work environment management Work management Other duties related to the health management of workers Health education Investigation of occupational illness causes and recurrence prevention
1996	Amendment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Ordinance			Making recommendation to employers to fulfill their duties based on the Act Protect provision that employer shall not dismiss or otherwise retaliate against the occupational health physician because of health recommendations	Medical knowledge required to perform health care for work (main requirement is completion of basic training course)
2005	Amendment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Ordinance		Addition of face to face guidance for overworked workers
2014	Amendment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Ordinance		Addition of face to face guidance based on stress checks
2018	Amendment of Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Ordinance			Employers’ duty reporting the contents of the occupational health physicians’ recommendations to the health committee

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