We carry out pre-employment screening of staff by questionnaire. Staff are
only seen for assessment if:
* They declare a health problem or disability which may affect ability
to attend & carry out duties
* They need a specific clinic assessment for fitness to work (e.g.
sight tests, spirometry)
* The need a specific service to protect them in their work (e.g.
vaccinations, health surveillance)
I assume we are all agreed that clinical assessment to assess fitness of all
new staff is poor use of time.
I'm pondering over introducing clinic assessment for new staff over a
threshold age, say 45 or 50, with the aim of picking up health problems they
may unaware of (primarily blood pressure or diabetes) that can be helped if
detected before onset of symptomatic disease. To help make sure they can
stay fit once we take them on.
Anyone have such a policy? If so, is it effective, is it worthwhile? Does it
generate any equal opportunity issue
Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
Director of Occupational Health
Occupational Health Service
Imperial College Health Centre
Watts Way
London
SW7 1 LU
Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/ <http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/occ_health/>
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