When hiring for any position, the health and safety of your staff must be a priority in order to prevent workplace injuries down the track.
A pre-employment medical examination is an important workforce risk management tool in any hiring process, enabling employers to find job-ready staff, particularly in industries that typically involve physical, stressful, remote, or dangerous work.
Pre-employment medicals: a summary
A common part of the recruitment process, pre-employment medicals ensure that a prospective employee is medically capable of doing their job safely, without unduly endangering themselves or others. Pre-employment medical assessments summarise an employee's health and physical abilities so that any existing conditions can be accounted for and managed appropriately throughout their employment. A pre-placement medical enables an employer to:
- Ensure candidates meet statutory or other requirements
- Obtain an accurate picture of a candidate's health at commencement of employment
- Provide a baseline for health surveillance (such as an audiogram)
It is one of many factors you will need to consider when making a hiring decision, and an important one in the context of creating a safer working environment for all employees.The pre employment medical aims to provide sufficient information to ensure safety for the worker, other employees, and the public and to ensure that workers with medical conditions are not discriminated against.
Whilst it is unlawful to exclude candidates solely upon the basis of a medical condition uncovered during a pre-employment medical assessment, there are some cases in which medical issues may impede a candidate's ability to perform their role safely.
For example, excluding a candidate with a seizure disorder from a role as a Dangerous Goods Driver would not be considered discrimination or adverse action, as there is a significant safety risk should the candidate have a seizure whilst driving the vehicle (as well as statutory guidelines which would prevent such a person lawfully driving in that capacity). While there are very few medical conditions that would permanently preclude a worker from a role, many conditions may require mitigation steps be undertaken by the employer and/or the candidate.
Preemployment medicals exist in this nexus between various anti-discrimination, privacy, disability, and workplace health and safety legislation. It also requires knowledge and application of various guidelines such as private and commercial drivers standards. For this reason, it is best practice for preemployment medicals to be overseen by doctors who specialise in occupational medicine.
Cross-industrial applications
Common in a range of industries including energy, mining, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, transport, construction, civil engineering, and healthcare, these medical assessments are an important part of the risk management strategy for many employers.
Employers' responsibilities
As the prospective employer, you'll need to know enough about what is involved in a pre-employment medical to field questions about the processes. You might be asked about what to wear to a pre-employment medical, or more pointed questions such as "does pre-employment medical assessment mean I got the job?" Answering will require tact and consideration, both for the rights of each applicant and for the risk factors and qualities required to do the job safely.
What is included in a medical examination?
This process often begins with a medical and occupational history questionnaire about candidates' health, lifestyle and physical history.
A medical history questionnaire may include:
- previous surgeries and injuries
- prescription medications
- vaccinations
- existing medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, poor lung function)
- substance usage (alcohol, cigarettes, vaping, various drugs)
- standarised tools such as an Epworth Sleepyness Scale (ESS) or Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)
Physical examinations
Pre-employment medicals may also include a variety of physical examinations, tests, and functional assessments.
In addition to medical history, employers may wish to run pre-employment medical checks for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood sugar levels, respiratory health and lung function, strength, and cardio fitness, among other things. Some roles may also require more detailed examinations such as a musculoskeletal assessment done by a qualified physio or occupational therapist.
Forward-thinking employers request testing based on role requirements and risk factors; for example, in roles that will require heavy lifting, a manual handling assessment will ensure that candidates are capable of handling different loads and repetitive lifting. Other roles may require a lung function test, hearing test, or vision test.
Psychological medical assessments
Drug and alcohol tests will often feature on a pre-employment medical test as part of general risk management. These tests can be completed in a clinic or a pathology lab, with either a breath test, a saliva swab or a urine sample for analysis.
Depending on the role, candidates might expect to also undertake pre-employment medical assessments that involve psychological screening and aptitude tests.
Preparing candidates for pre-employment medical assessments
For the best results, getting candidates prepared for pre-employment medicals is crucial. Be sure to provide clear advice on how they can prepare, from the prior preparations to the day of the testing and beyond.
From the essentials, like avoiding caffeine and nicotine in the eight hours prior to the testing, to the basics, like wearing loose, comfortable clothing and supportive shoes, every piece of advice is valuable at this recruitment stage.
Any candidate who uses prescription glasses, hearing aids and/or Ventolin puffers should be advised to bring these to the assessment, along with their valid photo ID.
How much is pre-employment medical in Australia?
The cost of a pre-employment medical examination can vary widely depending on the provider you choose and the tests you require, from $250 up to $1000+. Complex pre-employment medicals involving extensive pathology and radiology tests can cost even more.
Of course, for employers, there is also a potentially significant cost involved in delaying onboarding while waiting for medical test results.
The team of medical experts at 4cRisk focus on performing quality, customised pre-employment medicals with a quick turnaround, minimising delays and associated costs so that your business can continue to run as efficiently as possible.
Key Takeaways
The ultimate goal of a pre-employment medical examination is to assess the physical and mental health of a job candidate to ensure that they are fit to perform the duties required for the position they are applying for. It helps to identify any medical conditions or potential health risks that could impact their ability to perform their job effectively and safely. This process enables employers to make informed decisions when hiring candidates and ensures the well-being of both the employee and the workplace.
As an employer, the best thing you can do for job candidates is to reassure them that the tests are for their own safety – to ensure that they are able to do their best work in the role and to enable you to support them in any way possible.
Do you need a pre-employment medical assessment done to complete a recruitment process? Reach out to our friendly team for more information.
