Safer Together Medicals
Fitness to Work Medical Assessments Carried Out by a Qualified Safer Together Provider
Why Employee's Capacity and Mental Health Matter
An employee’s ability to perform their role safely and effectively is a top priority for employers, and this extends to considering an employee’s mental health. Psychosocial safety at work is particularly important in the Oil & Gas industry, where employees often work long shifts on FIFO/DIDO rosters residing in camps away from their family.
An employee’s capacity, which includes both physical and mental well-being, plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe workplace for all staff members. Workplace safety legislation highlights the responsibility of employers to provide staff with a safe work environment. By addressing the physical and mental fitness of employees, employers can ensure they meet safety regulations as well as contribute to an overall safer work environment.
Why Fitness to Work Assessment Matters
A Fitness to Work (FTW) assessment is a vital component of workplace safety both for employers and the employee. An employee’s health status and Fitness To Work assessment results assists with ensuring an employee can safely perform their role and help to minimise safety concerns in the workplace. Fitness for work assessments plays a crucial role in the early detection and intervention of chronic and potentially serious health concerns.
Fitness for work assessment results are critical for following occupational health guidelines and protecting team members. For staff members living in remote areas, where access to medical care may be difficult to come by, fitness for work assessments are indispensable in mitigating potential health concerns, especially serious conditions like heart attacks or strokes. By starting at pre-employment, the employee has the opportunity to seek medical treatment for potential medical conditions prior to commencement at work in a remote area.
Pre-Employment Medical Assessments
As well as a general health questionnaire and additional medical history provided by the worker, the FTW assessment includes:
- Urinalysis
- Vision (including colour)
- Cardiovascular system testing
- Respiratory system testing
- Gastrointestinal system testing
- Cardiovascular risk screening
- Spirometry (if clinically indicated)
- Neurological system testing
- Musculoskeletal testing
- Dermatological screening
- Ear, nose and throat screening
- Hearing assessment (including audiogram)
- Epworth Sleepiness Score
FTW Medical Outcomes
Medixhealth is a registered member of Safer Together and a participant in the Health Working Group. Our AHPRA-registered medical practitioners perform the Fitness to Work medical assessments in line with the Safer Together Medical Assessment guideline to ensure a consistent level of care. Alongside associated forms and processes, this provides a framework for our clinical team to evaluate results in relation to the worker’s job role and its inherent risks.
Following the assessment and analysis of the results, our medical practitioner will issue the worker with a Fitness to Work (FTW) Assessment Outcome, also known as a Fit Slip. The possible outcomes are as follows:
- Fit – The worker is deemed fit for work with no modifications or restrictions.
- Fit with Restrictions – The medical practitioner has identified a medical condition that requires restrictions or modifications, which will be listed on the Fit Slip. These restrictions are often temporary and the Fit Slip will state a review timeline.
- Unfit – The medical practitioner has identified a serious medical condition that makes the worker unable to perform their role as required, and they are deemed unfit for work. In this instance, there are no feasible restrictions or modifications that will enable the worker to safely complete their duties. In most instances this is temporary, and will be reviewed once the worker has adequate treatment to stabilise the medical condition(s).
Your Questions Answered
Who requires a Fitness to Work medical assessment?
A FTW Medical Assessment is a requirement for workers of participating Safer Together and affiliated sites in the Onshore Australian Oil and Gas industry whose role requires them to perform any of the following safety-sensitive tasks:
- Undertake remote or isolated location work
- Wear respiratory protection
- Operate vehicles, plant machinery or cranes
- Provide an emergency response or rescue team work
- Other tasks identified by the employer as high risk
How often should a Fitness to Work medical assessment be undertaken?
What does the Fitness to Work assessment consist of?
The FTW assessment includes information about the role and its tasks, to be completed by the employer; general health questionnaires, to be completed by the worker; and a physical examination, to be completed by the health practitioner.
The FTW assessment includes:
- Urinalysis
- Vision (including colour)
- Cardiovascular system testing
- Respiratory system testing
- Gastrointestinal system testing
- Cardiovascular risk screening
- Spirometry (if clinically indicated)
- Neurological system testing
- Musculoskeletal testing
- Dermatological screening
- Ear Nose & Throat screening
- Hearing assessment (including audiogram)
- Epworth Sleepiness Score
What is the purpose of fitness for work assessment?
A fitness for work assessment is conducted to evaluate an individual’s health and capabilities to perform their role safely. The medical assessment can help to identify potential health concerns by assessing cardiovascular risk scores among other tests, ensuring that employees are fit and ready for work.
Who requires a Fitness to Work medical assessment?
An FTW Medical Assessment is a requirement for workers of participating Safer Together companies, predominantly in the Onshore Australian Oil and Gas industry whose role requires them to perform any of the following safety-sensitive tasks:
- Undertake remote or isolated location work
- Wear respiratory protection
- Operate vehicles, plant machinery or cranes
- Provide an emergency response or rescue teamwork
- Other tasks identified by the employer as high-risk
How often should a Fitness to Work medical assessment be undertaken?
Fitness to Work assessments should be carried out at least every three years. However, individuals with chronic illnesses or medical conditions requiring additional investigation and/or ongoing management may be advised to undergo a more regular schedule of assessments, such as annually or every three months. This may be a partial assessment related to a particular medical condition and doesn’t necessarily mean that a complete assessment is required.
What is involved in a pre-employment medical?
The FTW assessment includes information about the role and its tasks, to be completed by the employer; general health questionnaires, to be completed by the worker; and a physical examination, to be completed by the health practitioner.
The FTW assessment includes:
- Urinalysis
- Vision (including colour)
- Cardiovascular system testing
- Respiratory system testing
- Gastrointestinal system testing
- Cardiovascular risk screening
- Spirometry (if clinically indicated)
- Neurological system testing
- Musculoskeletal testing
- Dermatological screening
- Ear, nose and throat screening
- Hearing assessment (including audiogram)
- Epworth Sleepiness Score
How long does a pre-employment medical take?
Most fitness for work assessment results will be available within 24-48 hours. However, in the case where additional services are required, such as follow-up assessments or specialist reports, the results may be delayed.
Can a fitness to work assessment address a non-work-related injury?
While a fitness to work assessment is designed primarily to focus on a staff member’s ability to perform a role, it also considers an individual’s overall health, which may include non-work related injuries, abnormal behaviour or health issues that could impact the role.
