Company Medicals

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Glammy

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Company is trying to get all employees to go for Medicals.

My question is, can they force this? Positions are office based, and there are no real medical requirements to fulfill the positions (i.e. none are out on sites and need to be able to climb ladders or anything strenuous).

They say it falls under Health and Safety Act.

Just wondering what our rights are in terms of this. Medical info should be private surely? Not sure I am comfortable sharing that info with my employer - even though I think I am 100% healthy.
 
New Health and Safety act. It is a very basic test anyway if there are any issues they tell you not your employer.
 
Will ask my Safety officer (I know construction in came into effect Feb this year) will try get something
 
Just do it. Last year we were sent for medicals. My blood pressure was 180/110. The nurse almost had a stroke.

If I hadn't gone, I would've been gone.

For the 2 medicals I have attended, no drug or alcohol testing were done.
 
I have no problem going for it, nothing to hide and haven't had anything like that done in ages. So results will be good to know ;)

Just wondering what actual rights are with regards to the employer knowing the results. Or what results are actually given to the employer, if any.

Web - you mentioned they tell you, not the employer of any issues. But then what is the point of the company sending you if they don't know any results? Does the employer just get a basic, "healthy" or "not healthy"?
 
Company medicals is vey basic testing, and even for office employees it has to be done to monitor occupational-related issues. For office employees generally things like 'carpal tunnel syndrome' can monitored and acted on early enough. Carpal Tunnel syndrome affects your wrist, fingers and sometimes shoulders.
The tests we undergo at our medicals range from eye tests, to hearing tests, to blood tests, to a some other basic testing. Once I asked the nurse why these tests have to be done and she explained that they are also able to pick up any abnormalities and advise early action or treatment.


This is only my experience and understanding . . .
 
Companies are responsible for your health for the time you work there. They need to be able to prove that they did not cause you harm. This is more relevant in factories, but applies to offices as well. In industrial settings, you will do an entrance medical, another one every year or two depending on your position and an exit medical. This is so that they can monitor that your health does not deteriorate because of your work environment. Things like hearing loss due to loud noise, or respiratory problems due to pollution. Also vision problems caused by office work. I don't know if it is compulsory if it was not part of your contract. Any problems they pick up will be reported to your employer so that they can take appropriate action.
 
Who pays for these medicals? The company?
 
web said:
New Health and Safety act. It is a very basic test anyway if there are any issues they tell you not your employer.
Click to expand...

They might tell tell employer as well; especially if it's high/low bp for machine operator/driver. Or possible colour blindness for electrician/automation personnel. Other employers request mandatory drug testing while others have tests specific to the type of product they manufacture (monitor level of product in blood stream, etc)
 
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