A room and roster do not make a system. An effective OHC is connected, governed and accountable.
Design around site risk
Facility, equipment, staffing, coverage and protocols should reflect the work, hazards, workforce, shifts, geography and credible emergencies—not a generic room specification.
Protect continuity and independence
Clinical decisions need clear authority, appropriate escalation and freedom from pressure. Records and referrals must remain continuous even when service partners change.
Measure quality
Review more than attendance volume. Track referral completion, action closure, emergency readiness, stock controls, surveillance gaps, audit findings and worker access.
This article draws on occupational-health principles and themes in Dr. G. Jayaraj’s Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and Central Rules, 2026. Interpretation is the author’s professional perspective.