What You Need to Know
Frequency of medical assessment review
From the H.S.A. guidelines:
Before a night worker commences work and at regular intervals (usually not less than every three years, although this may vary in line with results from risk assessments), the employer must offer the employee a health assessment by a doctor or a person under the doctor’s supervision, to determine any adverse effects of night work on the employee’s health.
The initial health assessment will determine if there is any underlying medical reason why the employee should not carry out night work. This could be a pre-existing medical condition which night work could affect adversely.
The follow up assessments are a form of health surveillance in that they seek to determine if the night work is having a detrimental effect on the night worker’s health.
Questionnaire Based Night Worker Medical
The possible outcomes from the questionnaire are:
- Employee is suitable for Night Work
- Hold fitness decision pending
- Phone call to employee to resolve issue
- Communication with Treating Doctor to resolve issue
- Medical assessment with an OHP required
- Employee does not wish to avail of health assessment
The outcome is indicated on the Fitness for Night Work certificate.
MedWise can provide the follow up work to resolve any open issues
In-Clinic Medical Assessment for Night Workers
Should the OH review of the screening questionnaire raise any red flags, we will recommend a medical assessment with either a MedWise OHP or with your company Doctor, to determine fitness for night working.
