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#1 Posted : 14 December 2007 12:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Edward Deighan
Does anyone have a pre-employment medical questionnaire which they wouldn't mind sharing with me which covers vibration, noise and fume issues. We are in the manufacturing sector.

If not does anyone know were I can purchase such a questionnaire.

Any help appreciated.

Eddie
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#2 Posted : 14 December 2007 18:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Bannister
You have mail.
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#3 Posted : 14 December 2007 20:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By George Wedgwood
Hi Edward - what matters is that you have access to a competent screening service (not expensive) -I have been there in the manufacturing sector and managed to persuade the Board to move to a basic level health support service. I can share experience if you like but I have emailed you a simple generic questionnaire as a starter, which you can tailor to suit your own hazards. See what you think and feel free to email me back. Regards, George
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#4 Posted : 16 December 2007 12:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Murgatroyd
Why would a prospective employee want their prospective employer to fill a pre-employment questionaire out ?
It may well be a good idea, in the future, but just asking them if they have any problems with vibration, noise and fumes should be enough.
If they answer: "Yes, we have problems with dust and fumes and some of the hand tools shake the guys about a bit, but what the heck....they all need the money"...... then you just go for another job where they care a bit more for the various regulations and employee health.
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#5 Posted : 16 December 2007 17:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By George Wedgwood
Hi John - I am sure most prospective employees would not actually think about a questionnaire but the employer would and should, if only to protect himself from possible future (inadmissible) claims from that employee. So a good employer will want to screen applicants to see if any may already be suffering from health problems that might indicate that a type of work may not be appropriate or flag up that the applicant had for example been previously referred due to back pain, making him unable to claim that his new employer caused it.

Of course, the screening and forms must be dealt with in confidence - usually between the H&S manager and HR person or other line manager.
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#6 Posted : 17 December 2007 00:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Murgatroyd
But if the person had already had back trouble, it would be part of their medical history. And recorded. If it was not part of their medical history, then there would be no way to detect the lie on the forms. If a previous injury/illness is recorded on the history, then it would be checked by any insurer when the claim is lodged.

This sort of "medical questionaire" is used to detect those who may be affected by poor employment conditions. IE: a dust problem that is not being solved, because it would cost something. A problem with various chemicals (paint solvents etc) that the employer cannot (again) bother to solve.
It is, in fact, another way to avoid sorting the PROBLEM out by sorting-out those who are likely to be affected by the poor workplace health and safety regime. Exactly the sort of poor regime that exists in the vast majority of English employers premises.
As a present H&S inspector said to me, when I mentioned the small business thinking...that the H&S inspectors should announce their visits: "That's never going to happen, small businesses are the worst offenders by far"
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