Under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act, employers have a duty of care to prevent the ill-health of their workers; In our latest blog, Insight Workplace Health takes an in depth look at Safety Critical Medicals.
Safety Critical Medicals (or Fit for Work Medicals) are obligatory for workers who undertake safety critical work as part of their role.
Safety Critical Work is defined as “Where the ill health of an individual may compromise their ability to undertake a task defined as safety critical, thereby posing a significant risk to the health and safety of others.”
Who requires a Safety Critical Medical?
Safety critical roles can occur in an array of different industries, an example of who would require a safety critical medical includes:
· Drivers
· Employees who work at height
· Scaffolders
· Plant Operators
· Fork-lift Truck Operators
· Confined space workers
It is crucial to ensure that these workers do not suffer from any medical conditions or undertaking any medical treatment which has the likelihood of causing incapacity, a sudden loss of consciousness, or have an affect on awareness, concentration, balance or coordination, or substantial limitation of mobility.
What’s included in a Safety Critical Medical?
The exact breakdown of your medical can differ depending on the job, role, or industry of the employee, however the standard set of tests tend to include:
· Comprehensive medical questionnaire
· Blood pressure
· Height
· Weight
· Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVs) Assessment
· Spirometry test
· Audiology test
Safety Critical Medical Certificate
Once you have completed your medical, you will be deemed to be one of the following: fit, unfit, fit with adjustments. If you have been deemed fit for work, you will receive your safety critical medical certificate saying just that.
What is a SEQOHS Safety Critical Medical?
You may have been told that you require a SEQOHS safety critical medical, but what does that mean?
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 will it take?
Typically, the medically will take up to an hour to complete, however this may increase if additional services are required, for example drug and alcohol testing.
Where can they be carried out?
The 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.
To book an appointment for you or one of your employees, you can contact us here, or call us on 01792 321010!