At WorkSafe, we provide Wichita-area business owners with a wide range of employee health and safety programs, including pre-employment physical exams. This begs the question: What is a pre-employment physical?
If you’re considering mandating employee health screenings, this guide can help you make an informed decision. Discover what pre-employment physicals entail, their benefits, and how to conduct them.
Employee Health Screenings Aren’t Uncommon
To ensure workplace safety, health checks are fairly common. Employers may require injured workers to pass a preliminary screening before they return to their duties, and certain industries mandate physical exams for workers to comply with federal regulations. However, you don’t have to be subject to federal regulations or deal with injured employees in order to issue physical exams.
Having a pre-employment physical could be standard policy for your company. What is a pre-employment physical, exactly? It’s a general screening that assesses someone’s physical and, in some cases, psychological health before they begin a job.
Test a Job Candidate’s Health for Peace of Mind Before They Start
As an employer, you have to do your due diligence before hiring anyone. Finding the perfect candidate to fill a role includes screening applicants, conducting interviews, and comparing each candidate’s qualifications. If a job involves a lot of manual labor or high-risk situations, focus on ensuring safe hires through physicals.
What is a pre-employment physical if not an opportunity to separate the most qualified candidates from those who may struggle in a certain role? Healthcare professionals evaluate a prospective employee’s overall health upon receiving a job offer. They run through a checklist of items, including the patient’s:
- Current medications
- Medical history
- Hearing
- Vision
- Blood pressure
- Heart and lung function
- Extremity strength
In some cases, examiners also administer vaccinations or perform psychological tests, depending on an employer’s requirements.
The Advantages of a Pre-Employment Physical Exam
Employers and their staff both stand to benefit from pre-employment physicals. Business leaders can enjoy the following advantages by mandating these health screenings:
- Confirming someone is physically and mentally capable of handling their job duties
- Reducing the risk of workplace accidents
- Preventing workers’ compensation claims
- Creating a health-oriented workplace culture
Imagine you hire someone for a physically demanding job, but they aren’t fully equipped to fulfill their duties. If they get hurt on the job and need to file for workers’ compensation benefits, you lose valuable time and money trying to find someone better suited for the role.
For employees, this step is also beneficial. A comprehensive physical identifies conditions that impact their overall health, such as high blood pressure or abnormal heart function. By pinpointing these problems early, providers can recommend treatment plans that improve an employee’s health.
Understanding HR Pre-Employment Requirements
Aside from “What is a pre-employment physical?” one of the most common questions employers have on this topic is “How do I conduct physical exams for prospective employees?” If you choose to mandate these health screenings, your human resources department must follow company protocol.
Common duties for HR professionals include:
- Coordinating where the exam will take place: Many employers partner with outpatient care providers or businesses like WorkSafe, which specializes in employee health and safety programs.
- Outlining special tests: Depending on the job duties, employers may want healthcare providers to test certain functions, such as an employee’s cognitive abilities.
- Providing the necessary paperwork: You’ll need to give your prospective employee important documents to bring to their examination.
- Preparing candidates for their exam: Explain everything that a job candidate can expect at their pre-employment physical, such as urine testing, vision screenings, and more. Remind them to bring a list of all of their current medications for the examiner.
- Communicating with job candidates: After the physical, it’s up to HR professionals to review the results and explain the next steps to onboarding employees. Depending on the results, they may be ready to move forward with the role or have their offer rescinded for health and safety purposes.
Conduct Various Employee Health Screenings With WorkSafe
What is a pre-employment physical? Are physical ability tests the same for every employee? How can you remain compliant with workplace drug screenings?
These are some of the many questions our WorkSafe team receives from employers. Rely on us for comprehensive workplace health and safety measures that protect your staff and support your operations. We offer everything from ergonomic assessments to drug testing and fit-for-duty exams.
Contact us today by calling (316) 262-8800 or submitting our online request form. Discover how we can mitigate health issues within the workplace.