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Occupational Health & Medicals

What is Occupational Health?

Occupational health refers to medical services and programs that support the health, safety, and performance of employees in the workplace. These services are often delivered in partnership with employers to ensure compliance with legal and safety requirements.


What is Occupational Medicals?

Occupational medicals are specific health checks that evaluate a worker’s physical and mental fitness in relation to their job. They may be required before employment begins (pre-employment medicals), periodically during employment, or when returning to work after illness or injury.


These assessments are particularly important in industries such as construction, mining, transportation, aged care, and healthcare, where physical demands or health risks are higher.


Importance of Occupational Health

Occupational health is essential because it helps ensure that workers can perform their jobs safely and effectively, thereby preventing injuries and illnesses caused by work-related hazards.


This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity, lower absenteeism and turnover rates, and reduced worker compensation and healthcare costs.


Benefits of Occupational Health

Some of the benefits of occupational health include:

  • Preventing and managing work-related injuries and illnesses
  • Improving productivity and reducing absenteeism
  • Reducing healthcare costs
  • Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
  • Improving employee engagement, motivation and loyalty
  • Enhancing the reputation of the company
  • Demonstrating commitment to employee well-being


Types of Occupational Health

There are several different types of occupational health, which include:

  • Occupational medicine: This branch deals with preventing, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating work-related injuries and illnesses.
  • Industrial hygiene: This field focuses on identifying and assessing workplace hazards, such as chemicals, noise, and radiation, and developing strategies to control or eliminate these hazards.
  • Occupational safety: This field deals with developing and implementing safety programs and policies to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.
  • Ergonomics: This field focuses on the design of the workplace and equipment to minimise the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain and repetitive stress injuries.
  • Environmental health: This field involves assessing and managing environmental factors in the workplace, including air quality, water quality, and the presence of hazardous materials.
  • Employee assistance programs: These programs provide counselling and support services to employees, helping them manage personal or work-related issues that may impact their health and well-being.
  • Occupational health psychology: This field examines the psychological aspects of work, including stress, burnout, and work-life balance, as well as their impact on the health and well-being of workers.


These different types of occupational health work together to ensure the overall well-being, safety, and health of the workforce.


Pre-Employment Medicals

Pre-employment or pre-placement medical examinations are evaluations conducted before an individual is hired. These evaluations aim to assess the individual's physical and mental health and determine whether they can perform the job's essential functions.


A pre-employment medical examination typically includes a review of the individual's medical history, a physical exam, and specific laboratory tests such as blood and urine tests. Depending on the nature of the job, the examination may include additional tests, such as a respiratory function test, a hearing test, or a vision test.


The information gathered during a pre-employment medical examination is used to identify any health conditions that may impact the individual's ability to perform the job safely and effectively. If any issues are identified, the employer may make accommodations to help the individual perform the job or may determine that the individual is unsuitable for the position.


Pre-Employment Medical Services

We offer pre-employment health assessments. To arrange a health assessment for an employee, please contact our practice. Pre-employment medical can include any of the following:

  • Driver’s License Medicals
  • Audiology Screening
  • Spirometry
  • General Health Check-up
  • Drug and Alcohol Testing


Driver’s License Medicals

Driver's licence medicals, also known as a driver's fitness examination, are a medical evaluation conducted to determine whether an individual is medically fit to operate a motor vehicle. Government agencies typically require the assessment to issue or renew a driver's licence.


A driver's licence medical examination aims to assess an individual's physical and mental health and identify any conditions that may impact their ability to operate a vehicle safely. The assessment typically includes reviewing the individual's medical history, performing a physical examination, and conducting specific laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests. Depending on the individual's age and medical history, additional tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or a vision test may be required.


Benefits of Driver’s License Medicals

  • Reduce the risk of accidents caused by medical conditions that impair driving ability.
  • Identify and address health conditions that may impact driving ability
  • Help ensure that only medically fit individuals are operating vehicles on the roads
  • Help ensure that individuals with certain medical conditions are aware of the need to manage their conditions to maintain their driving ability


Driver’s License Medical Procedure

The procedure for driver's licence medicals typically varies depending on the requirements of the government agency responsible for issuing or renewing driver's licences. Generally, however, the individual will be required to complete a medical questionnaire, undergo a physical examination, and provide additional information or test results as necessary.


The examination results will be reviewed by a licensed physician, who will then make a recommendation regarding the individual's fitness to drive. The government agency will then decide whether to issue or renew the driver's licence based on the examination results and the physician's recommendation.


Audiology Screening

Audiology screening is an evaluation used to assess an individual's hearing ability. The screening aims to identify hearing loss or other auditory problems that may impact an individual's ability to communicate effectively or perform specific tasks.


Audiology screening is essential because it can detect hearing loss early, allowing for early intervention and treatment. Early detection and treatment of hearing loss can help prevent the negative impact of hearing loss on communication, socialisation, education, and mental well-being.


Benefits of Audiology Screening

  • Early identification of hearing loss
  • Identification of specific types of hearing loss
  • Identification of treatable causes of hearing loss
  • Identification of individuals who may need further evaluation by an audiologist
  • Help to identify and manage hearing loss caused by noise exposure


Audiology Screening Procedure

The procedure for audiology screening typically involves the use of various tests to assess an individual's hearing ability. These tests may include the following:

  • Pure-tone audiometry: This test uses a series of tones at different frequencies and intensities to determine the individual's hearing threshold at various frequencies.
  • Speech audiometry: This test utilises speech sounds to assess an individual's ability to understand speech at varying loudness levels.
  • Tympanometry: This test assesses the mobility of the eardrum in response to changes in air pressure.
  • Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test: This test assesses the function of the inner ear by measuring sounds generated by the inner ear in response to a stimulus.


A trained audiologist or a trained technician typically does the screening. An audiologist will review the screening results to determine if there is any hearing loss or other auditory issues that require attention. The audiologist will recommend further evaluation and treatment options if a hearing loss is identified.


Spirometry

Spirometry is a type of pulmonary function test that measures the amount of air a person can inhale and exhale and how quickly and forcefully the person can exhale. The test is typically performed using a spirometer, which consists of a mouthpiece connected to a machine that measures lung function.


Why is Spirometry Needed?

Spirometry can be useful in pre-employment medicals for certain occupations where respiratory function is crucial, such as firefighting, mining, and other work environments with high levels of dust or pollution.


The spirometry test can help assess a candidate's lung function and determine whether they are capable of performing the job safely and effectively. For example, a firefighter with impaired lung function may be at increased risk of injury or illness when performing strenuous tasks in a smoke-filled environment.


Spirometry can also be part of ongoing occupational health surveillance programs to monitor respiratory health over time and identify early signs of respiratory impairment.


Spirometry results should be interpreted by a qualified doctor familiar with the individual's medical history and other relevant factors. Sometimes, spirometry may need to be combined with other tests or assessments to get a complete picture of a person's respiratory health.


General Health Check-up

This examination typically includes a review of the individual's medical history, a physical exam, and specific laboratory tests such as blood and urine tests.


Drug and Alcohol Testing

Pre-employment drug and alcohol testing is typically done to identify any drug or alcohol use that may impact an individual's ability to perform the job safely.


Insurance Medicals

Insurance medicals, also known as insurance health checks or medical examinations, are medical assessments conducted by healthcare professionals to evaluate an individual's health status and identify risk factors for specific medical conditions. Insurance companies often require these assessments when an individual applies for or renews an insurance policy, such as life insurance, disability insurance, or income protection insurance.


What is Included in Insurance Medicals?

Medical insurance exams can vary in scope and complexity depending on the type of insurance being applied for, the applicant's age, and their medical history. However, insurance medicals typically include the following components:

  • Medical History Review: The doctor will review the applicant's medical history, including past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and chronic health conditions.
  • Physical examination: The doctor will conduct a physical exam, which may include measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, and other vital signs. They may also examine the applicant's heart, lungs, abdomen, and other body systems.
  • Laboratory tests: The doctor may order laboratory tests, such as blood or urine tests, to screen for medical conditions or risk factors.
  • Diagnostic tests: Depending on the applicant's age and medical history, the doctor may order additional diagnostic tests, such as imaging studies or electrocardiograms (ECGs), to assess the health of specific organs or body systems.
  • Lifestyle and risk factor assessment: The doctor may ask the applicant about their lifestyle habits, such as smoking or alcohol use, and assess their risk for certain medical conditions based on age, gender, and family history.
  • Mental health assessment: The doctor may ask the applicant about their mental health history and assess their risk for mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety.


Why Are Insurance Medicals Needed?

The purpose of insurance medicals is to assess an individual's health status and risk factors, which may impact their eligibility for insurance coverage or affect their insurance premiums. Insurance companies use the medical assessment results to determine the risk level associated with insuring an individual and setting premiums accordingly. In some cases, periodic medicals may be required by insurance to monitor changes in an individual's health status over time.


Insurance medicals are an important part of the insurance application process. They help insurers make informed decisions about coverage and premiums and provide individuals with valuable information about their health status and risk factors.


Workers Compensation Cover

This service focuses on the medical assessment and management of employees who have been injured or become ill due to their work-related activities. It plays a vital role in guiding recovery and a safe return to work.

  • What’s involved:
  • Independent medical examinations
  • Injury assessments
  • Development of return-to-work plans
  • Liaison with treating doctors and insurers
  • Why it matters: Prompt and expert support can significantly improve recovery outcomes and reduce time off work. It also ensures that any workplace modifications or duties align with the employee’s current health capacity.