What is a pre-employment physical exam and how it is done?

A pre-employment physical exam is part of the employment screening process for companies. The purpose of physical exam is to ensure that the employee’s health is compliant with any job related requirements for the position they are applying for. The physical exam can be simple & quick or complex & lengthy, depending on the requirements of the job profile. For instance, a worker might be examined to confirm if he/she is good and can perform jobs that require rigorous physical activity.

Nowadays, more and more companies are requiring pre-employment exams in order to shortlist potential employees. This pre-employment exam not only prevents from work injury, but also prevents the company from work related lawsuits, that could have been prevented at the employment stage.

Pre-employment physical exams can only be legally requested after the job has been offered. This ensures that there is no discrimination issue at the workplace. This also shows up the potential worker to do that job.

Basic Checkup list

Pre-employment physical exam starts with a measurement of your vital signs.

The nurse will record your body-weight, blood-pressure, pulse-rate and body-temperature.
You are also requested to mention any medications or supplements you might be taking. Since, some drugs or nutritional supplements may cause drowsiness, nausea and other potential side-effects. If you are hired to handle some high-stress job profile, then the company might also want to know how you handle pressure. The examiner might ask you questions regarding depression symptoms, mood swings, behaviors and your stress dealing technique. People who smoke or have other mitigate habits may not be a good fit for certain jobs.

Alcohol and Drug Tests

Conducting alcohol and drug tests have become common in many corporates, and you may be asked to undergo one in order to get a job. It is important, especially in high-risk jobs, where employees are handling heavy equipment and being drunk can result not only in personal harm but also in harm to other employees and to property.

It is performed in a number of ways such as; breathalyzers, urine tests, blood tests, hair testing and even mouth swaps.

Physical Examination

Besides the basic checkup, your doctor will also check your reflexes, joint health, heart health and respiratory function, hearing issues and pupil dilation. All of these vital checks can help give your physician a more precise portrait of your physical condition.

The doctor will also note any uneasiness, discomfort, pain or swelling you might be experiencing and would want to know it’s caused and when it started.

While submitting, remember the tests performed might change based on:

Ø  Your age

Ø  Your sex

Ø  Accidents/injuries you reported during the interview

Ø  Current or past medical history

The Results

After the examination the doctor will issue a report showing your physical condition. He might add some recommendations or prescriptions, although this is not always required.

The primary goal of performing such pre-employment physical test ensure that the company is aware of any medical conditions or issues you might be dealing with, so you stay safe and work on getting back to optimal health.