health screening at work

mynameistallulah

kpwll wrote: »

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.

What are "these tests" that you refer to?

MissSarah1972

Is it a fit for work test?

smi85

I work in a chipboard plant and are subject to an annual medical.

ohreally

kpwll wrote: »

Nights are worked, -
The firm have made a comment saying that by law these tests have to be done.

The employer has a duty placed on them to provide health surveillance for night workers. Perhaps they are ensuring compliance.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1833/regulation/7/made

Is trade union involved in the process to ensure it doesn't become intrusive?

j.e.j.

Asking the union (if there is one?) is a very good idea.

By 'intrusive' do you mean things like blood and urine tests, and physical examinations, etc.? I would have thought he could refuse, and/or go to his own GP for the medical (although he would then presumably have to foot the bill for it)

If it is a questionnaire he could always put something along the lines of: "private and confidential" if he didn't want to answer a particular question.

If the employees are driving a forklift truck at night I guess the company just want to cover themselves.

Where I have misgivings is when employers seek to contact the employee's own GP surgery and ask for access to their medical records. Now that I am totally against.

kpwll

Thank you all again for your replies.
The union rep is away from work having a knee op at the moment.
It is not being put forward as a fit for work test.
No-one is sure what the tests/screening will be made up of, this is why I'm trying to get as much information as possible before they start. Hubby hasn't seen the questionaire yet so I can't tell you what is asked.
Even the people who don't work nights are being screened.
I realise I'm asking 'how long is a piece of string' but they don't want to blindly give over control when it is unnecessary.

dickydonkin

j.e.j. wrote: »

Where I have misgivings is when employers seek to contact the employee's own GP surgery and ask for access to their medical records. Now that I am totally against.

They can ask - but unless the patient has consented, the GP cannot provide medical records to an employer.

surreysaver

VfM4meplse wrote: »

It does if the employer insists that a consent form / disclosure agreement is signed before screening - not very scrupulous but unfortunately quite possible.

If an employer insists, then it isn't consent. Consent must be given freely without duress. The threat of dismissal or disciplinary therefore means that any medical interventions required by an employer are not consentable. Any professionally registered OH doctor or nurse therefore are leaving themselves open to disciplinaries by their professional bodies during their period of employment should anyone complain.

surreysaver

dickydonkin wrote: »

But just to add, I was under the impression that medical details cannot be passed onto the employer without consent (Access to Medical Reports Act) so if that is indeed the case, your argument doesn't hold out.

Hasn't the Medical Records Act been replaced by the Data Protection Act for people who are alive now? The AMRa I belive only applies to the dead?

mildred1978

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

Couldn't disagree more. Try having one of your staff have a bi-polar episode in the middle of the office with absolutely no idea that the individual had the condition. As their manager you have a duty of care by how can you do that without warning?

Or someone prone to blackouts in a 10 storey building with no lift. Said person blacked out and fell down the stairs without anyone knowing for a good hour.

I had a member of staff confess to be HIV positive, confidentially, just in case something happened.

I informally told colleagues when I was 12 weeks pregnant, and just as well I did as someone in the office had shingles.

Your medical state may well be private to you, but you can be pretty sure it will affect your colleagues/employer at some point.