The report certifying fitness for heavy and hazardous work, still often mentioned in hiring, is a term left over from the former Labour Law. Today the same need is met by the pre-employment health report issued under Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331. This article summarizes the origin of the term, which report is required today and how it is obtained.
Where does the term come from?
The concept of heavy and hazardous work was based on Article 85 of Labour Law No. 4857. The jobs in scope were set by a separate regulation, and employees in these jobs had to document their fitness with a health report. Article 85 and the provisions on the health report were repealed by Article 37 of Law No. 6331.
Which report is required today?
Law No. 6331 makes the distinction through the hazard class of the workplace. Workplaces are classified as low hazard, hazardous or very hazardous by their NACE activity codes in the Communiqué on Workplace Hazard Classes for Occupational Health and Safety.
Under Article 15 of the law, employees who will work in hazardous and very hazardous jobs cannot start work without a health report confirming they are fit for the job. The document employers request as a heavy and hazardous work report is today the pre-employment health report issued on this basis.
Who issues the report?
For jobs in the hazardous and very hazardous classes, the report is issued by an occupational physician working in the workplace's own unit or in the OSGB that provides services. The report is prepared on the EK-2 form annexed to the Regulation on the Duties, Authorities, Responsibilities and Training of Occupational Physicians and Other Health Personnel.
Which tests are performed?
The occupational physician determines the tests based on the nature of the work and the exposures. Tests commonly requested in hazardous work are listed below.
- Chest X-ray and pulmonary function test for dust exposure
- Audiometry for noisy work
- ECG and vision screening for work at height
- Biological monitoring in blood and urine for chemical and heavy metal exposure
- Carrier screening for food handling
When is the report renewed?
Periodic examinations take place at least once a year in the very hazardous class and at least every three years in the hazardous class. A job change also requires an examination. After repeated absences due to an occupational accident, occupational disease or health reasons, an examination is carried out on return to work at the employee's request.