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Posted By JimE
Hi folks,
This question is a bit long-winded I'm afraid.
A work colleague has a spinal problem possibly one of the spondilosis things i think. She came to me for first aid yesterday in tears because she reached round for work and her neck "went".
She couldn't continue working and I took her home at her request.
I completed an accident/incident form and informed the manager. He wants the IP to supply a doctors note saying she is fit to work as this is her second identical injury in a year.I don't think she has made management officialy aware of her problem.
Does she have to supply this doctors note?
Her job is packing light objects but piece work and so busy, busy, busy.
I know this is more occy health related so I hope one of you o/c experts out there can help.
JimE
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Posted By Robert Randall
Hi Jim,
not sure if she has to supply a doctor's note. This is more of an employment question and I'm no expert.
I would suggest however that it seems from what you have said that her injury might have been caused by "reaching round for work". Has the work and the workstation been assessed with this user in mind and is it not possible to eliminate this twisting motion to avoid such injuries?
Not trying to teach granny to suck eggs but just a reminder that if the IP is off more than 3 days then it is a RIDDOR reportable injury. The cause of the injury should also be investigated.
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Posted By Robert Randall
Should also have said that if it has happened before with this particular person then it seems even more likely that it is work related in her case. Remember the "thin skull rule".
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Posted By Phil Rose
Unfortunately some employers have quite the wrong idea about what a 'doctors note' is for.
The F MED 3 is issued for the purposes of Social Security and Statutory Sick Pay purposes only (and it says this quite clearly along the top of the form)
So the answer is 'no' she doesn't have to supply that at all and the GP has no need or obligation to do so.
However, from her point of view I would say that she should inform her employer if she is suffering from Ankylosing spondylitis or similar as it gives the employer a fair chance to consider her condition fully and make suitable adjustments if necessary
Phil
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Posted By SteveD-M
Agree with the above and in the unlikely event that she may wish to make a claim she will need to prove foreseeability. Currently this may not be so clearly identified. The doctors note would help her here so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it..
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Posted By JimE
Hi folks,
Thanks for the responses,
Yes the job has been risk assessed but not for this IP as she hasn't made us aware her condition "officially" until this incident so I will crack on with that.I believe the problem is her medical condition.
It isn't a F MED 3 the manager was asking for but a letter from her GP/specialist saying she is fit to do the job.
I don't think that is the way to go anyway...pity we don't have an occy health dept.
RIDDOR will be done if needed I agree.
Thanx
JimE
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Posted By steven bentham
JimE
I am sure you have already considered other aspects, but are you able to change her work OR put some variety in her work OR have you involved her in finding an answer to a possible solution?
Regards
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