The fundamental changes in the working world with their effects on the incidence of illness and potential health, the effects of progress in medical care technology leading to increasing specialization and prioritisation, and demographic change resulting in workforces becoming older, all these factors require new answers from us as occupational physicians. The central issues which crystallize out include the prevention and early diagnosis of mental and psychosomatic disorders, the provision of advice about the design of workplaces and working conditions for a workforce which is growing older, and the support of companies and affected employees during reintegration into the workforce. Company physicians can carry out these tasks optimally only when they form part of a team in an established company management system for occupational health and safety. Then, as medical generalists, their role is to act at the decisive interface between the individual and the company as initiator and coordinator. Their effectiveness then depends on their ability to cooperate with partners from other disciplines and to establish supporting networks.
