PRE-EMPLOYMENT, PERIODIC AND EXIT MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS
DR DEB SUTHERLAND, Corporate Manager, Physiotherapist, ERA Health reports on the updated employee medical assessments.
ERA Health in collaboration with CMPA has recently prepared medical examination forms designed to assess medical and functional fitness specifically related to the quarrying industry.
The three categories of medical assessments created, namely Pre- employment, Periodic and Exit assessments, are set within the framework of major concerns relating to respiratory and auditory functioning, high injury and other compensable condition costs, high insurance premiums, and an increasing emphasis within organisations on worker health and well being initiatives.
STANDARDISATION
The medical and functional examination of employees/ prospective employees by different medical practitioners and physiotherapists at different locations makes it necessary that common examination procedures be used in order to obtain uniformity of assessments.
The assessment forms are supported by documentation which describes the required standards and procedures. It highlights that the assessments are designed to be non discriminatory and are intended to assess the suitability of the prospective employee for the inherent requirements of particular quarrying tasks in order not to place themselves and others at a health and safety risk.
ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES
The Pre-employment assessment includes a physiotherapy functional assessment, a medical history and questionnaire, a medical examination including body systems such as the musculoskeletal, respiratory and cardiovascular systems and drug and alcohol, vision, lung function, and audiometric screening. There is also an employee declaration and a health summary report sheet by the examining doctor.
The functional assessment was created after extensive observation and communication with workers and management at quarrying sites and is aimed to assess physical and functional fitness for the specific requirements of the quarrying industry. It is a physically demanding assessment and workers should be informed of the testing by the employer prior to assessment. Informed consent will also be obtained by practitioners prior to testing.
Periodic medical assessments including the functional assessments aim to monitor health of existing workers on an annual basis Reviewing the collective data can identify areas of concern and trends for the industry and this can be utilised to form the basis for health and well being initiatives or corrective actions for example to reduce the incidence of injuries.
Regular health surveillance is particularly important in an aging workforce and to monitor the health of workers who have been in the industry for an extended period of time. The functional assessment will indicate specific areas of health and fitness which workers need to address and methods by which they can achieve the required outcome. Annual assessment will monitor improvements achieved and direct future advice.
Exit medical assessments establish the existing health status of workers at the time they leave the company. This information can be a valuable tool for the company if the worker initiates legal proceedings based on occupational health and safety or under the accident compensation legislation.
IMPLEMENTATION
The examination involves consecutive time with a nurse, doctor and physiotherapist and can be undertaken in approximately two hours. If additional relevant information is required the outcome is pending upon the results. CMPA members can arrange their own assessments or ERA Health can arrange either on-site or within a clinic assessments.
The following documents can be purchased from the CMPA at a Members rate of $50 each:
Instructions for Medical Practitioners Pre, Periodic and Post Employment Assessments (Set of 5 printed)
Queries regarding assessments can be directed to Dr John Gall, Principal and Director ERA Health, Ph: 03 9944 6200 or Deb Sutherland Corporate Manager, Physiotherapist Ph: 03 8335 0600.
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