health screening at work

Emmzi

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You mean compared to the world you actually live in?

In my everyday life people don't try and backstab me *every* day, no.

VfM4meplse

Emmzi wrote: »

In my everyday life people don't try and backstab me *every* day, no.

Maybe they do, but you don't know about it? In which case you cannot possibly accept any accusations of paranoia with grace .

MissSarah1972

I know I would not have one if offered or made to be a company. I don't give them the right to know my personal medical record.

ohreally

Be aware of employers who store the occupatiuonal health files within their HR dept, a practice I abhor.

dickydonkin

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

I know I would not have one if offered or made to be a company. I don't give them the right to know my personal medical record.

In certain occupations where exposure to agents that are known to cause advers effects on the body have been identified, you would not have a choice - however, you certainly could refuse - the caveat being that you would likely be up on a disciplinary charge.

MissSarah1972

dickydonkin wrote: »

In certain occupations where exposure to agents that are known to cause advers effects on the body have been identified, you would not have a choice - however, you certainly could refuse - the caveat being that you would likely be up on a disciplinary charge.

The OP says there is nothing in their contract

I was talking in general like office jobs or retail work. No one would need to know if you have been ill in the past of your state of health etc

mynameistallulah

Seventeen posts and we still have no idea what the OP has been asked to do!

dickydonkin

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

The OP says there is nothing in their contract

I was talking in general like office jobs or retail work. No one would need to know if you have been ill in the past of your state of health etc

Which is fair enough, but for health screening in respect of exposure to substances for example, it would may not be necessary to include this in a contract of employment as the employee has an obligation under H&S legislation to co-operate with his employer to enable them to comply with statutory requirements.

For a chemical plant for example, I suspect such a stipulation would be included in a contract of employment, however, it is very likely that such surveillance would only concentrate on the 'target organs'.

I used to be involved with the surveillance of workers in a noisy factory and we had a sound booth fitted to enable audiometric tests to be carried out on site.

These tests were mandatory as part of our noise monitoring programme and there were no objections, however, there was an option to have a standard health check from a nurse who visited the plant at regular intervals - however, these checks were not very well attended.

Gingernutty

kpwll wrote: »

Does anyone know what, if any, employee health checks are compulsory if offered by an employer? There is nothing in the employment contract to cover this.
Thank you for any help and information given.

I'm afraid, the answer is "It depends....."

On your actual job and what you're being asked to do in the course of your duties, your industry and how dangerous it is and the level of responsibility.

I used to work in a radioisotope production facility and we had a comprehensive series of routine scans, blood tests and regular badge changes.

Air traffic controllers, police officers, army personnel, train drivers and the like are routinely subjected to drugs testing and some employers insist on general fitness, eye, hearing and hand/eye co-ordination tests.

If you are asked to do heavy lifting then load handling courses and the occasional physical fitness test/trip to the OH nurse to see if you have any niggles.

If you use computer screens then your employer has responsibilities there and some even help to pay for any glasses you might need.

Are you worried your employer will find out something you've been keeping hidden or are you worried your employer isn't doing what it should?

kpwll

Sorry for the delay in answering you all, thanks for the replies. My husband's firm are now employing an outside firm to carry out health checks. They used to use a local gp to give jabs, do back to work interviews etc. It appears that they plan to introduce far more intrusive checks, giving out questionnaires to the employees to fill in prior to actual screening.
Nights are worked, 1 week in 3, they all go on courses for lifting, forklift truck licence etc.
The firm have made a comment saying that by law these tests have to be done. There are no chemicals or harsh substances, the firm only makes gelatin.
While nobody objects to eye or hearing checks, what if any other tests would be compulsory?
My husband has worked there for over 20 years and there has never been anything like this suggested before. They are just trying to find out where they stand if they refuse any intrusive tests. All are willing to go to their own gp's to have a full medical if required.
Hope I haven't rambled too much. Thanks again.