Organizations are always trying to make the work place conducive and safe for all employees. To achieve this, most of them require their employees to undergo fit for work assessments to determine their level of physical and mental abilities as well as their sensory acuity. Other major drives for the organization to order for this assessment include:
1. An Injury or Medical Condition
Once an employee is injured, or after a diagnosis of a medical condition, it is within the employer’s rights to request for an assessment to determine how fit the employee is to handle the workload. It also helps remove the risk of the employee endangering himself, his co-workers, and even the public. Additionally, it is also okay to request for an assessment while an employee is undergoing rehabilitation for the injury or condition to determine if the job can cause any further damages to him.
2. Job Transfers and Changing Work Conditions
Organizations that want to change an employee’s current position or the current working conditions can also assess the employee’s ability to cope with these changes. Such changes include the intricacies of a new position, a new environment, working with different colleagues, and exposures to different environments. A fit for work assessment can also help an organization establish if their process to make the transfer or the changes in the working conditions was a success—for future references or needs to go back to the drawing board for modification.
3. Recruitment of a New Employee
Organizations need to know who is working for them without risking the lives and jeopardizing their work. A new employee can undergo this assessment to determine their personality and their mental state, especially if handling sensitive organization materials. Additionally, physical fitness can also be assessed in strenuous jobs too to minimize risks and accidents in the workplace caused by employees.
4. Periodic Review
Organizations that handle sensitive and even risky jobs can carry out fit for work assessments to determine the safety of the employees and the public. Additionally, the review can be a stipulated requirement by the law to be met by employers. These organizations needs to maintain a safe environment always, and employees who show functional limitations can be considered for possible retirement or enrolled for professional help.
Fit for work assessments create a safe haven in workplaces for all employees, and every organization should consider implementing it. However, to implement it successfully, you need to follow the right procedures and guidelines to avoid breaking any laws or consult an expert to guide on how to implement it.
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