The recruitment rules have changed; apart from measuring the skill set, companies are now obliged to check whether the recruit is medically fit for the job. The best way to ensure your potential hire is medically appropriate is to add pre-employment medicals to the recruitment process. But what are pre-employment medicals? And what is the importance of implying them when recruiting a new hire?
What are Pre-Employment Medicals?
Pre-employment assessments indicate that the potential candidate is mentally and physically fit and capable. Not only that, but these tests are good enough to pinpoint underlying issues that can get worse with time. Pre-employment Medicals are common and most vital steps of the hiring process.
These can be customised and vary according to the nature of the job. These tests are highly recommended to assess the potential candidates’ overall health and skills to ace the assignment. Not only that, but this also helps the company keep track of the employee’s health.
In a nutshell, the following are the benefits of conducting pre-employment medicals
Advantages Of Pre-Employment Medical Assessments:
- It ensures a risk-free and healthy working environment.
- Decreases the risk of injury to new hires and the pre-existing staff.
- Minimises downtime and retains employees for longer.
- Reduces insurance costs and worker claims
- Reduced recruitment costs and hassle.
- Ensure a perfect match between the recruit and the position offered.
What Do Pre-Employment Medicals Typically Include?
A generic pre-employment assessment includes the following; however, for a high-risk position, the evaluation may vary.
- Height, weight, body mass index (BMI)
- Cardiovascular assessment: general heart check-ups, blood pressure check-ups, pulse rate, and heart health.
- Musculoskeletal examination: range of movement, muscle capacity and integrity, general strength of muscles, reflex and sensory function, and trigger points.
- Central nervous system examination: sensorium, cognition test, cranial nerves assessment, motor, sensory, etc.
- Examination for hernias and abdominal anomalies.
- Urinalysis: assessing the health of kidneys and bladder.
- Respiratory Assessment: To check for any anomalies in the lungs.
- Vision assessment, including colour blindness and weak eyesight.
More extensive pre-employment medicals are conducted for a high-risk position that may include public safety; here’s how they work.
Specific Pre-Employment Medical Examination Requirements:
- Spirometry is an extensive lung test (For Health Care Workers and Mortuary Workers, etc.)
- Liver Function Tests (For healthcare, farmers, livestock handlers, etc.)
- Audiometry test, commonly known as a hearing test (For Employees Working in Compressed Air Environment such as underwater divers.)
- Blood Lead and Urea, Electrolytes, Creatinine (U, E, Cr) (For Construction workers)
- Drug and alcohol testing (For Commercial jobs like drivers, teachers, hospital staff)
- Work fitness assessments
All Pre-Employment medicals are customised and specified according to the nature of the job.
Conclusion:
Pre-employment medicals are ideal to take the hassle and stress out of the hiring process. You can safely appoint the best candidate for the job backed by these medical tests. These tests ensure that the demands of the position posted will be met by the candidate you have hired.
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