Pre-Employment Medicals

• A safer working environment,

• Reduction in workplace injuries,

• Minimised downtime,

• Reduction in WorkCover claims and insurance costs,

• Matching the capacity of the employee with the role, and

• Overall recruitment cost and risk reduction.

Moreover, an innovative IT system supports our health practitioners to ensure timely, accurate and optimal quality in health data management and communications.

Most pre-employment medicals begin with a health questionnaire aimed at gathering information about your health, lifestyle and physical history. The questions may relate to previous surgeries, prescription medications, vaccinations, and current disabilities and conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.

You could be asked about whether you exercise regularly, and how much you drink, smoke or take drugs. Some of these questions might feel confronting but it’s important to answer as honestly as possible. Remember, no one is judging you. It is simply trying to mitigate the risk of future workplace injuries to yourself and others.

 The medical examination could include your blood pressure, body mass index, urine analysis (to check for blood and sugar levels), spinal assessment, as well as tests for hearing, vision, heart and lung function, strength and cardio fitness.

Additional medical exams could include a drug and alcohol screening, MRI, ECG, chest x-ray and psychological tests. If your job involves heavy lifting, you could be asked to undergo a manual handling assessment. This will test your ability to carry different loads and deal with repetitive lifting, limb flexibility, as well as your back and grip strength.

It’s a good idea to wear loose clothing, including supportive joggers, so that you’re comfortable throughout the process. Make sure you bring your prescription glasses and/or hearing aids, and avoid drinking caffeine and smoking for eight hours beforehand, if possible.

The good news is that your pre-employment medical is not a ‘pass/fail’ test. It simply provides a summary of your health and physical abilities so that existing conditions can be identified and managed before you begin your role. For example, you might be required to wear glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision, or your employer may need to adjust the workplace to ensure you are safe and supported in your role.

Keep in mind, some jobs have certain medical requirements to ensure you can carry out the role sufficiently. However, employers cannot discriminate against you if your medical test reveals a disability or condition that is unrelated to the tasks you will need to perform in your role. 

You might be worried that an existing injury or condition will rule you out. But rest assured, employers cannot exclude you for this. They simply want to make sure you’re undergoing proper treatment for the injury and that the workplace is a safe environment for you and your colleagues. If a medical condition is uncovered that requires attention, you will most likely be advised to see your GP.

• Medical Questionnaire

• Occupational Questionnaire

• Physical Examination

• Audiological Screening

• Vision Screening

• Lung-Function Test

• Pregnancy Test

• Urine Dipstick Testing

• Blood Tests (Glucose/Cholesterol/Laboratory Testing)

• Multi-Drug Test

• Electro-Cardiogram

• X-ray imaging

There are many reasons why firms need medicals. One of the main reasons is to ensure your employees are healthy. Healthy workers are more fruitful than unhealthy workers are. It will also ensure that the employer is on the safe side of the law. Regular medical examinations save the company a lot of money.

Firstly, let us take a driver for example. You appoint a driver to deliver goods on behalf of the company. Nobody knows that the driver has diabetes. Not many people know this, but diabetes can affect eye site. Worst-case scenario, the driver gets an attack while driving. This situation could lead to serious injury or even death. If the truck driver reveals his condition, they will review the employer.

It will be the responsibility of the employer to prove innocence. If there was no medical examination done, the employer can be liable. A basic medical examination can avoid this liability.

Long-term health damage can also cost the company a lot of money. If a person gets hearing loss because of their work, they can claim damages from the company. Detecting problems early can help the firm take reasonable steps. The fitness certificates can also act as proof in a criminal hearing.