Periodic Fitness for Duty Programme
Periodic Fitness for Duty Programme
These are evaluations (usually for roles that are considered safety critical and/or required by Industry Standards) conducted at regular intervals to ensure employees can perform their job duties safely & effectively.
Section 23 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 gives the right to the employer to require employees to be assessed in relation to their fitness to carry work which pose critical risks to the safety, health and welfare of persons at work.
At present, specific regulations defining or naming employments requiring medical fitness assessments, have not been developed.
However, examples of work roles/tasks,where medical suitability to work may be of relevance, are:
- Respirator Use
- Rescue team
- Mobile equipment operations and professional driving
- Transferees and business travel
- Lone Working
- Confined space entry
- Night worker / Shift worker
- Food handler
- Heat work (heat stress)
- Working at heights
- Working in very dry (low humidity) conditions
- Working in oxygen deficient atmosphere
- Good Manufacturing Practice Production
Policy Review and Creation
As per the Health & Safety Authority’s Guide to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
There are specific statutory requirement to retain information of regarding Fitness for work for specific periods.
Further detailed information is available in OccDoc’s Privacy Notice.
Assessment of Existing Policies
If an employee covered by this section becomes aware that he or she is suffering from any disease or illness likely to expose him or her or any other person to an increased risk of danger in connection with any work activity, he or she must immediately inform their employer or a registered medical practitioner, nominated by the employer.
Development of New Policies
If the employer is informed as above by either a nominated registered medical practitioner or the employee, immediate action must be taken by the employer to comply with the general duties under Section 8 as regards the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees.