Pre-employment medical examinations enabling the correct placement of workers according to their physical and mental compatibility to job specifications.
Exit medical examinations recording the health status of workers on termination of service to prevent later litigation.
Employee health assessment and ongoing management including:
- Health policy development
- Medical surveillance programme and periodic medical examinations to monitor the health status of workers exposed to health hazards in the workplace as laid down by occupational health legislation.
Medical Surveillance examinations such as:
- At timed intervals that are determined on risk-based criteria
- Audiometry
- Visual Screening
- Spirometry
- Chest X-rays
- Skin Assessments
- Driver Medicals
- Shift Work Questionnaires
- On-going physical examinations of employees is an assessment of the body structure and functions or the inspection for signs of disease using palpation (feeling with the hands), percussion (tapping with the fingers), and auscultation (listening). It aids in diagnosis and treatment plan and is required by the Health and safety Act.
- Audiometry is measurement of the range and sensitivity of a person’s sense of hearing. It is used to diagnose the extent of hearing loss in a person suffering from suspected hearing loss, or other disorders of the ear. All employees who are exposed to noise at and above the noise rating limit for hearing conservation purposes or who are required to enter noise zones , should undergo audiometric tests in accordance with SANS 10083:2004.
- Vision screening is a brief assessment that assesses the presence of a vision problem or a potential vision problem. The key purpose of vision screening is to evaluate an individual’s visual performance regarding the ability to see details at near and far distances and to see different colours.
- Spirometry is measuring lung function, specifically the volume and flow of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. It is useful in assessing conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders. This test is done to monitor the lung function of a person who is regularly exposed to hazardous chemical substances such as dust.
- Chest X-ray is a diagnosis radiograph of the chest used to identify conditions affecting the chest and its associated structures such as the lungs, the heart and the ribs. Chest X-rays uses ionising radiation to produce images and it is a non-invasive procedure which is conducted to find the cause of symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough and shortness of breath.
- Skin assessment is done to determine the patient’s general physical condition, based on cautious examination and palpation of the skin and documentation of the findings. It includes the assessment of skin colour, moisture, temperature, texture, mobility and turgor, and skin lesions. The most common skin appearances are rough and scaly skin or dry skin. Contact dermatitis and eczema are the most common skin disease caused by sensitizing agents, irritants and contact with oil, grease and other substances.
- Driver medicals are performed to establishing whether drivers who have medical conditions are able to satisfy the medical standards required for safe driving. Some of the medical conditions which can affect safe driving includes: Head, neck, spinal injury; disorders or illnesses Kidney; Seizure, convulsions, or epilepsy; Dizziness, fainting, or frequent headaches; Muscular disease; Permanent impairment Eye problem; Nervous or psychiatric disorder Cardiovascular disorders; Heart attack, stroke, or paralysis; any major illness, injury, or operations in last 5 years
- Shift work questionnaire helps in assessing the ability of individuals to undertake shift work, and it also assist in detect any disorders likely to be aggravated by shift work which may include: Reduction in quality and quantity of sleep, complaints of anxiety and fatigue, depression, and increased neuroticism, Increasing evidence of adverse cardiovascular effects, possible increase in gastrointestinal disorders.