The most important precondition for the safe and non-hazardous work is to avoid harmful impacts on employees at their workplace (arising either from their work or working environment) which cause a constant deviation from the optimum demands, in other words this effects could be harmful to their health. This is the primary task of an occupational health specialist (company physician) to identify the factors by a medical examination to determine suitability for a certain work field.

By occupational health regulation (Act on Industrial Safety 1993:XCIII, decrees by the government and health minister: 27/1995, 89/1995 and 33/1998) every employer, who occupies employees in a regular work frame, has to provide medical examinations to determine suitability for a certain work field.

When an employee starts working it is advisable to put down their health status to avoid later claims for damages when an employee might want to connect a disability or chronic diseases to their former work field.

Purpose of the occupational health examination is:

- to asses the suitability of the individual for a certain work field and whether they can fulfil their tasks without risking others

- to support the individual to adapt to the job

- to assist the individual to maintain or improve their health and prevent harmful effects in the workplace.

Forms of the examination:

- a previous examination for suitability (before starting to work, change in the work field or workplace or prior to an employment over two weeks)

- periodical examination for suitability in periods depending on the work field

- extraordinary examination for suitability (alteration in their physical conditions, acute occupational affection, in case of unconsciousness or repeated work accidents, sickness arising from workplace conditions, after sick leave of over 30 days and after cessation from work over half a year).

- close examinations.

Elements of the occupational health basic programme:

- examination for suitability in a certain work field (company physician)

- licensing, detecting occupational diseases, assessment of effects of the working activity and the workplace

- advising and professional counselling relating to working environment, protective clothing and work safety.

There is always a problem both for employers and employees to attend occupational health examinations. To avoid this, on request, we can organise the periodical examinations at the company.

dr. Konrád Júlia

Occupational Health Specialist