Safety Critical Medicals - Everything you need to know
- Insight Workplace Health
- Apr 18, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 29
A Safety Critical Medical is a health assessment carried out to check if someone is fit to safely carry out a role that could impact their own safety or the safety of others.
These roles often involve working at height, in confined spaces, with machinery, or while driving vehicles or operating plant.
If you or your employees need one, this guide explains exactly what’s involved, who needs one, how long it lasts, and what happens if someone doesn’t pass.
Quick learning points
A Safety Critical Medical checks if a worker is fit to carry out high-risk jobs safely.
Roles include working at height, driving, using machinery, or working alone.
Medicals include hearing, vision, lung function, blood pressure checks, and health history.
Certificates typically last 1–3 years, depending on age.
These checks can be done on-site, at a clinic, or in a mobile unit.
If an employee doesn’t pass, temporary work restrictions may be applied while further advice is sought.
Table of Contents
What is a safety critical role?
A safety critical role is any job where being medically unfit could pose a serious risk to the individual or others. These roles often involve tasks or environments where poor health, reduced awareness, or sudden illness could lead to an accident.
Who should get a safety critical medical?
Examples of safety critical roles include:
Working in, on or around heavy machinery
Operating moving vehicles or mobile plant
Working at height (WAH)
Confined space working
Lone working
Driving HGVs, forklifts, or other specialist vehicles
Why do my employees need a safety critical medical?
Employees undertaking safety critical roles are required to pass more stringent medical assessments than other employees.
Safety Critical Medicals or fit for work medicals ensure employees are not suffering from medical conditions or undergoing medical treatment that could:
Cause sudden loss of consciousness or physical incapacity
Reduce awareness or concentration
Affect balance, coordination and/or mobility
These assessments ensure that employees do not cause risk to themselves or others.
What does a safety critical medical include?
The Safety Critical Medical includes a detailed past medical history questionnaire and questions about current health conditions, symptoms and/or treatments including:
Cardiovascular disease, chest pain, palpitations, or blood disorders
Dizziness, epilepsy, head injury, persistent headaches, or stroke
Diabetes, thyroid disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis
Stress, anxiety, or depression
Allergies, current drugs or medications, illegal drug or alcohol misuse
Stomach or bowel disorders, kidney, bladder, liver, or gall bladder disease
Hernias or any other factor which may impact upon an individual’s fitness for their role
The following are also covered by safety critical medicals where required: audiometry, HAVS, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory health, skin assessment and vision assessment.
Safety critical medicals can be done on-site, at a clinic, or through one of our mobile clinic services.
How long does a safety critical medical certificate last?
Below is how often you will need to update your safety critical medical certificate:
Aged 54 and under: 3 years
Aged 55 – 64 years: 2 years
Aged 65 and over: 1 year
Benefits of safety critical medicals
Safety critical medicals help reduce risk, protect staff, and support legal compliance. They give employers confidence that their workforce is physically and mentally fit to carry out high-risk duties:
Improved workplace safety – Identifies health issues that could lead to accidents or incidents on-site.
Legal and regulatory compliance – Meets obligations under health and safety law and industry-specific standards.
Early detection of health problems – Picks up on underlying medical issues before they affect job performance or safety.
Supports employee wellbeing – Shows staff that their health and safety is taken seriously.
Helps reduce absenteeism – Well-managed health conditions are less likely to result in unplanned time off.
Improved productivity – Fit, healthy workers are more focused, reliable and efficient.
If my employee has an underlying health condition, can they remain in work?
In many cases, employees with health conditions can remain in safety critical roles. This is as long as their condition is well managed, and they meet the necessary standards for their job.
If an employee has a condition such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy, they will need to show the occupational health clinician that their symptoms are stable, well controlled, and being managed under the care of a GP or specialist. Many non-progressive cardiac, respiratory or neurological conditions are compatible with safety critical work, especially when the employee has a good understanding of their condition and is taking appropriate medication.
However, some roles have specific fitness standards that must be met. This may include areas like hearing, eyesight, or respiratory health. If these standards aren’t achieved, temporary restrictions may be put in place until further medical advice is sought. Follow-up assessments may also be arranged to review the employee's condition and ensure workplace safety is maintained.
Examples of workplace restrictions could include:
Not permitted to drive or operate machinery due to uncontrolled high blood pressure
Not cleared for lone working due to recent seizures or blackouts
The frequency of future medicals may vary depending on the employee’s age, medical history, or test results. In some cases, more frequent assessments will be recommended.
Additional Information
Safety Critical Sites
Some sites or workplaces may require all personnel who enter the site, regardless of whether their role is a safety critical role, to have passed a safety critical medical.
Confined Spaces and Flammable Atmospheres
All employees wearing hearing aids or other battery-powered medical devices i.e. insulin pumps etc. will need to check with their health and safety managers as to whether the devices are ATEX compliant and fit for use.
Looking to book a safety critical medical appointment?
Fit for work medicals can be carried out at any of our 5 occupational health clinics in Swansea, Newport, Treforest, Ruthin or Llanelli, we also have mobile clinics available, so we are able to come to your premises UK wide, contact us here or call us on 01792 321010 to get booked in today!
What is a Safety Critical Medial: FAQs
What is SEQOHS?
If you're looking for a safety critical medical, chances are you'll require this to be undertaken by a SEQOHS accredited occupational health provider.
Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Services (SEQOHS) is an accreditation demonstrating that the organisation undertaking the occupational health activities have met the industry required standards, this is an accreditation that we are proud to boast at Insight Workplace Health.
How long does a safety critical medical last?
The validity of a safety critical medical depends on age. For employees aged 54 or under, it lasts 3 years. For those aged 55 to 64, it’s valid for 2 years. Employees aged 65 and over will need a new assessment every year to ensure they remain fit for work.
What is classed as a safety critical role?
A safety critical role is any job where poor health could put the employee or others at risk. Examples include working at height, operating heavy machinery, driving, confined space work, or lone working. These roles require a higher standard of medical fitness to ensure workplace safety is maintained at all times.
Can you fail a safety critical medical?
Yes. If an employee has a health condition that is uncontrolled, poorly managed, or poses a risk to themselves or others, they may not pass. In these cases, temporary restrictions may be applied, or further investigation requested before a final decision is made by an occupational health professional.
Can safety critical medicals be used across multiple sites or jobs?
Yes, but only if the medical was carried out by a SEQOHS-accredited provider and meets the standards required by the employer or site. Some high-risk workplaces may still request additional site-specific assessments before allowing entry, even if a valid safety critical medical has already been completed elsewhere.
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