Occupational rehabilitation services provided by a community workers health centre in Hong Kong: A case study

Background: In Hong Kong, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO), based on the model of the English Workmen's Compensation Act 1943, establishes a no-fault, non-contributory system for work injuries. It focuses merely on the minimum social expectation in compensating injured workers in monetary terms, but does not place much emphasis on prevention, rehabilitation and return to work polices for workers with injury. There is a need to reform an effective and comprehensive occupational rehabilitation system for workers with work injury in Hong Kong. Methods: This paper presents a case study of a worker with work injury undergoing occupational rehabilitation through services provided in the local community setting by the Hong Kong Workers' Health Centre. Results: The case study highlights some crucial factors and/or intervention modalities in facilitating workers' return to work, including timely intervention, work-site based rehabilitation, communication among different stakeholders, dynamics of company, rehabilitation counselling, community integration and individualized work resettlement. Conclusion: Without reviewing and revamping the current ECO, the goal to provide timely and effective occupational rehabilitation services for workers with injury could not be fully achieved.