FITMed24

Category: Clinic Medicals

  • The Value of Occupational Medicals

    The Value of Occupational Medicals

    Exploring the Value of Occupational Medicals? While most people will only pay a visit to their doctor when they are in pain or feeling unwell, others tend to favour a more pre-emptive approach in which they choose to book a more in-depth physical check-up once or twice a year, a sort of roadworthy test for the body. There is a lot to be said for the latter approach, a fact that is made apparent by the growing tendency among employers to arrange for their staff to undergo occupational medicals.

    These, however, are not the sort of routine examinations typically conducted by a general practitioner. In practice, they may only be carried out by personnel who have undergone the appropriate training and have obtained a recognised qualification in the field of occupational health. Those involved include physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Often, a small company will rely on a suitably qualified nurse and a part-time doctor to provide its occupational medicals, while larger companies will tend to prefer the support of a specialist organisation to conduct such services.

    In addition to fielding staff with the appropriate qualifications and accreditation, one of the most important requirements for these companies is to have in-depth knowledge and experience of a wide range of industries and the tasks associated with them. Although all of the examinations they perform will have many features in common, certain activities require unique physical qualities that will need to be evaluated. This is precisely why these examinations are known as occupational medicals and why they should only be carried out by those with the relevant knowledge.

    In most cases, these examinations can be carried out on the employer’s premises and should not result in any significant interruption to the normal flow of work. A reputable service provider is certain to have a mobile facility to ensure that the bulk of the tests considered relevant to any given industry can be completed on-site without calling upon its external facilities.

    Among the investigations common to all occupational medicals are blood pressure measurements and a variety of routine blood and urine tests. Where necessary, these will be further supplemented by more specialised examinations, such as X-rays, ECG, spirometry, audiometry, evaluation of vestibular function, and any others that may be seen as directly or indirectly relevant to a given subject’s fitness to perform his or her designated tasks.  

    Occupational medicals are a form of insurance, not just for employees, but also for employers. A healthy workforce is a productive one and, when an employer is seen to show concern for his or her workers’ health, this is a surefire recipe for inspiring loyalty and boosting internal relations, as well as reducing costly staff turnover.

    Need Occupational Medical ? Contact FITMed24 today.

  • Exit Medicals

    Exit Medicals

    Over the years, there has been a growing acceptance on the part of employers within selected sectors of industry, that it may be wise to evaluate the fitness of manual workers before granting them employment. However, the importance of conducting exit medicals at the time that a worker may be leaving their employ, whether voluntarily, or as a result of dismissals, has tended to arouse rather less attention from management.

    Professional Exit Medicals are Important to Both Workers and Management

    Much of this apparent indifference was originally due to a lack of legislation, but with the introduction of a compulsory programme of medical surveillance for workers in the mining sector, there is hope for more widespread compliance. Medical surveillance has subsequently been extended to include any workers who are required to operate in conditions of excessive noise, in the presence of high levels of lead or asbestos, or who may be at risk due to exposure to certain chemical substances or biological agents.

    The objective of surveillance is twofold. On the one hand, it is intended as a means with which to monitor and to protect the health of workers who operate in hazardous environments and, on the other hand, to ensure that employers are protected against spurious compensation claims for work-related illnesses. The programme includes pre-employment, periodic and exit medicals. The first medicals determine the fitness of new workers to undertake the tasks required and establish a baseline for future comparisons. Intermediate examinations ensure that the health of each worker is maintained and will detect any early signs of a work-related condition, while the latter establishes the state of the worker’s health at the time of resignation or dismissal.

    Because both the physical demands of the job and the nature of the attendant hazards tend to vary between one workplace and the next, the particular examinations and tests that may be included in these surveillance programmes also vary. They do, however, include a number of standard procedures, such as a full medical examination, the measurement of pulse and blood pressure, and urine screening tests. Over and above these, specific tests such as lung function, audiometry and vision testing, as well as X-rays, ECG and any blood chemistry, haematology or microbiological investigation that may be seen as appropriate.

    Submitting to exit medicals and the other examination is not optional for workers in industries where operating a medical surveillance programme is compulsory. An employer is only required to make this clear and to ensure that each employee understands what he or she can expect during this examination, and how important they are to his or her health. These examinations can, however, only be conducted by registered medical practitioners and nurses who also hold a formal qualification in occupation health.

    While it remains a fact that not all industries are compelled to adopt surveillance programmes, the benefits of maintaining a healthy workforce are prompting a growing number of concerned employers to introduce staff medicals voluntarily. FITMed24 operates a team of certified occupational health professionals providing services to companies both with and without compulsory medical surveillance programmes. We offer our clients a choice between conducting them at our clinic premises or utilising one of our mobile units to conduct them on-site, where this may be more convenient.

  • Occupational Entry Medical

    Occupational Entry Medical

    Why should you be doing Entry Medicals in the workplace? If you operate a business in a potentially hazardous industry, the health and safety of your employees should be at the forefront of your mind. Unfortunately, in such industries, situations can arise where employees are exposed to risk, and even if your business has mechanisms in place to minimise these risks, it’s best to ensure that the health of every employee is closely monitored.
    Such medical monitoring shouldn’t only begin once you have hired a new employee. It should start prior to employment. This means that you will know the medical condition of your employees before they are exposed to your business’s working environment.
    Why is this important? For starters, entry medicals can help you to determine if an individual is physically fit and healthy enough to perform the required duties and enjoy long-term employment in your specific industry. Knowing this will help you to make a decision that is right for you and the potential employee. The medical reports will also provide a good basis to continue monitoring. For instance, if an employee has a certain medical condition at the time of employment and it gets worse due to the exposure to risks, action can be taken promptly. A staff complement that’s kept healthy is bound to be one that’s productive.
    Book your Occupational Entry Medical today with FITMed24
    Medicals cannot be carried out by other staff members or those who have no qualification in the occupational health and safety field. It is important for your entry medicals to be handled by a qualified and registered occupational health and safety practitioner. This ensures that the tests are carried out according to regulation and that they are thorough. The results of the medicals can also be discussed and explained so that there is no confusion at any point along the way. When an employee leaves the company, an exit medical is carried out and the results can be compared to those from the entry medical.
    If you want to ensure that both you and your employees are protected, it’s important to be meticulous about carrying out company medicals. At FITMed24, we currently offer entry medicals and exit medicals starting from just R490. For your convenience and for cost-saving purposes, we come to you. All of our employees are experienced healthcare practitioners who will treat your medical testing and results with the utmost professionalism and discretion.
    We recommend that you discuss your business needs and requirements with our team. To book entry medicals or exit medicals with us, simply give us a call or send us an email today.

  • What does an occupational medical include?

    What does an occupational medical include?

    Depending on the type of industry you work in and depending on your company’s health surveillance program a medical can become quite complex.  Example: It could be a simple medical for a labourer on a construction site conducting general who is not exposed to any hazardous substances.

    To a general construction worker required to work with hazardous substances which could require blood, urine and X-ray type screening for exposure of these hazardous substances. Medicals should be performed according to the specific job function the employee is undertaking. 

    The medical should include an Audio test, Vision test and Spiro test (Lung function) and a full physical examination of the employee which includes a urine screen, Blood pressure and pulse rate.

    However, testing can be more accurately done according to a medical surveillance program implemented by an Occupational Technologist, Hygienist or a Health and Safety Practitioner.

  • Annexure 3 Document

    Annexure 3 Document

    As per the new construction regulation, it is mandatory that all construction companies conduct medical screening for their workers. Companies must complete this form before sending employees for medicals. All information should be filled in accurately, as it enables the medical practitioner to determine the correct course of screening for each employee.

    Please contact us if you require any further information regarding the construction regulations.

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  • What are Occupational Health Services and Why Are They Important?

    What are Occupational Health Services and Why Are They Important?

    Health and safety, industrial, or occupational hygiene are all terms that are so frequently used interchangeably that it is easy to overlook the fact that they refer, not to a single science, but to a combination of many. One thing they all have in common, however, is that their aim is to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of employees in the workplace. It is convenient to categorise their various efforts as either technical or medical, and it is the latter that may best be described as occupational health services.

    It is the technical experts who are tasked with identifying any hazards that might pose a threat to the safety or wellness of employees. However, the responsibility for determining whether employees may have been affected by such hazards, or that they are sufficiently fit to perform those tasks that are expected of them, falls upon doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with the necessary experience to provide these specialised occupational health services.

    Every job poses its own challenges, some of which may be physical. Where this is the case, not everyone who applies for the job is necessarily capable of meeting its challenges. Consequently, one of the more common requests made to these specialists is to conduct a medical examination specifically designed to confirm or preclude an applicant’s physical suitability for a given job.

    Among the many industries in South Africa that now depend on these assessments on those organisations qualified to provide occupational health services are mining, construction, aviation, and haulage, as well as those employers involved in the preparation and production of food and beverages. The latter group is interesting in that it is the employee rather than the job that might pose a potential hazard. Their noses, mouths, and other sites must be swabbed and checked for the presence of pathogens, such as Salmonella and Staphylococcal species that could contaminate food and infect consumers.

    The need to perform these cultures and any other laboratory tests that may be appropriate requires companies engaged in dispensing occupational health services to provide the necessary facilities and to employ suitably qualified staff to perform them. These services, incidentally, may not be limited to conducting medicals and lab tests.

    Educating employers and employees about how to conduct their own safety measures can be every bit as important. This is why, FITMed24, one of South Africa’s leaders in this field, has added a number of valuable SETA-accredited training courses to its extensive portfolio of on-site and clinic-based occupational health services. Courses cover knowledge of basic first aid and fire fighting, evacuation and emergency drills, as well as HIV and TB in the workplace.

    Contact us today for more information

  • THE IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

    THE IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

    Why is occupational health important? Anyone who is employed will know that the job can get on top of one at times. However, it may not be the job itself or any lack of knowledge or experience that is the problem, but rather that you simply lack the physical qualities required to perform certain of the tasks required. The science of occupational health (OH) was born as a result of health and safety legislation governing the management of potential hazards in the workplace. While the legislation proposed the introduction of measures to protect workers from such hazards, this invaluable spin-off of the Health and Safety at Work Act is intended to measure the fitness of individuals to perform their various assigned tasks.

    For example, someone with respiratory problems should not be working in an environment where sawdust or cement particles are constantly present in the air, even if provided with a protective mask. Likewise, that same employee could be at risk if consistently required to lift heavy items. Examination by an occupational health specialist can quickly expose such inadequacies and ensure that those affected are allocated tasks that they are physically capable of doing.

    For several years now, this type of examination has been seen as a valuable addition to the conventional selection process. In addition to the usual reference checks, psychometric tests, and face-to-face interview, many prospective employers are now choosing to include a medical examination, more specifically, an examination of the type conducted by an occupational health specialist. These are essentially a means by which to gauge whether a candidate has the level and type of physical fitness seen as necessary to cope with the physical demands of the job rather than merely possessing an appropriate qualification and a glowing reference.

    These procedures are thorough and can be tailored according to the specific needs of given industry whilst containing elements that remain common to all. Furthermore, the value of this particular type of occupational health service is not confined to recruitment. Anyone who is engaged in a physically demanding task, for a protracted period, carries the risk of an injury or illness that might require time off from work. For these individuals, an OH specialist will be far better qualified to determine whether or not they are fit to return to work than the average GP who will probably have little knowledge regarding the physical demands posed by the patient’s job.

    Despite the importance of these medicals, this is only one of the services provided by occupational health specialists. In addition to being called upon to conduct TB and HIV screening programmes, they also play an important educational role. For example, companies are required by law to ensure that adequate first aid facilities are available to their staff. The kit alone, without the knowledge and experience needed to utilise it, would be of little benefit, and so, these specialists also undertake to provide all of the professional first aid training required.

    In order to gain employment as an occupational health practitioner, the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who choose this option must undergo a course of specialised training, gain a recognised OH qualification, and be granted official accreditation before they are permitted to dispense their professional services. Chat to FITMed24 about OH services for your staff.