What Is A Safety Critical Medical?

Occupational health is full of complicated jargon that can confuse and intimidate some business owners, as they might worry about how occupational assessments will affect their work. However, health assessments like safety critical medicals are vital for the continued well-being of employees, and the security of your workplace. Safety critical medicals are one of those complex terms that many business owners are unfamiliar with, and so we’ve put together a guide which explains what they are and who requires them.

What Is A Safety Critical Medical?

A safety critical medical is a health assessment which is used to check whether someone who is completing ‘safety critical’ work is fit to do so. The assessment makes sure the person is not accidentally endangering their own life or the lives of others. A ‘safety critical’ job is a role where an employee who doesn’t have full, unimpaired physical and mental health can create dangerous results. For example, they may be operating machinery, and therefore if something goes wrong there could be disastrous consequences – whereas the health of someone working at a desk probably won’t impact the safety of others. Employers have a duty of care to their employees, and so they are required to carry out safety critical medicals in order to prevent hazardous situations and injuries.

Who Should Get A Safety Critical Medical?

If you want to find out whether your employees require a safety critical medical, then the first step is to carry out a risk assessment. This will determine whether the activities being completed in the job need to be carried out by someone who is healthy and able to complete the tasks safely. If there aren’t any serious risks involved in the role, then you won’t need to carry out safety work medicals for your employees.

Examples of Safety Critical Roles:

Forklift Truck Operators:

Any workers who operate forklift trucks – whether they are regular or full-time operators – should receive a health screening before they begin and then again during their employment. These workers are operating heavy machinery and it could be very dangerous if they have a health problem that affects their performance.

Workers at Heights:

People who work high up should always get a health assessment to make sure they don’t have a health issue that could cause them to fall, or that will create a situation where others get hurt too.

Drivers:

Staff who drive vehicles as part of their job should be assessed to see whether they have the medical fitness to drive safely. This includes vehicles like vans, tractors, cranes, excavators, etc.

Confined Space Workers:

A confined space doesn’t have to be tiny, it could refer to something quite large, like a grain silo. The risks of working in a confined space include lack of oxygen, explosions or fires, poisonous gases, and dust. Anyone working in a confined space should be assessed to see whether they have a health condition that could make them more at risk.

Lone Workers:

Employees who work alone should be assessed to see whether they have any health problems that could put them at risk while they are alone. These issues could be conditions like epilepsy or heart problems.

Night Workers:

If your employees are working at night, then it’s a legal requirement to offer regular health assessments to make sure they aren’t being negatively impacted by the work. Also, it ensures that they remain able to carry out the role safely.

What Does A Safety Critical Medical Involve?

Every safety critical medical examination is different, because the tests are specific to the person’s job and what they need to have checked. However, there are several standard tests that are involved in nearly every health assessment, these include:

• Basic health questionnaire
• Weight & BMI tests
• Blood pressure and pulse tests
• Urinalysis
• Hearing test
• Respiratory test
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Vision tests – colour, peripheral vision
• Dermatology test
• Mobility assessment
• Hand-arm vibration test

The medical usually  takes an hour, and can be carried out in the workplace for convenience. A health professional will determine whether the test results mean the person is unable to complete their work, and then they will suggest measures that might fix the problem. This could mean the employee undertakes further medical attention with a GP, or they might have to change duties so that they are carrying out less risky work.

Benefits of Safety Critical Medicals

Responsible employers take care of their staff, and ensure that the work is not having a negative effect on their health. They should also make sure that their staff have the ability to complete work in a safe manner, as this ensures the continued security of their other staff members. Unfortunately, some people are just not suitable for certain roles, and it’s an employer’s responsibility to make this hard decision. Safety critical medicals are the right way to determine a person’s ability, rather than just deciding on it yourself. These assessments create a secure workplace, and the staff will appreciate knowing they are working in a safe place where their health is valued.

Choosing An Occupational Health Provider

If you’ve decided that your workplace is safety critical, and that your employees will require work medicals, then the next step is to choose an occupational health provider. Healthier Workforce is an expert provider, offering reliable occupational health services all across the UK. We have 10 years of industry experience, and always work closely with business owners in order to tailor services to their requirements. To learn more about our safety critical medicals, our health surveillance services or general employee health and wellbeing at work, simply contact our friendly team today.