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Citizengas  
#1 Posted : 21 November 2019 12:09:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Citizengas

Good Afternoon, 

I am trying to update our Induction records and am looking to change one of the questions we currently ask new starters and those new to a particular site.

At the moment we ask them if they have any "significant medical conditions" we should be aware of. (I am aware that employees do not have to answer that question if they do not want to!)

We would like to make the question a bit more focussed, i.e. provide a list of conditions that we would like to be informed of, to enable us to either make reasonable adjustments or to ensure we have the facilities available should an incident occur in which the person is involved and may require additional / alternative care. Does anyone have any ideas as to what sort of medical conditions we should be looking for? e.g. diabetes, allergies, heart conditions, etc

We are a construction / building maintenance company

Thank you in anticipation of your help

Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 21 November 2019 12:33:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

I would take it the other way - what do you have that could harm an employee and in particular if they have...

PU wood ashesives typically contain isocyanates - people with asthma or pre-exsting sensitisation should avoid working with such substances.

If you have the potential for dusty environments those with COPD or asthma are best avoiding.

If your work involves strong magnetic fields then not the task for someone with a pacemaker.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
Citizengas on 21/11/2019(UTC), Citizengas on 21/11/2019(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 21 November 2019 12:33:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

I would take it the other way - what do you have that could harm an employee and in particular if they have...

PU wood ashesives typically contain isocyanates - people with asthma or pre-exsting sensitisation should avoid working with such substances.

If you have the potential for dusty environments those with COPD or asthma are best avoiding.

If your work involves strong magnetic fields then not the task for someone with a pacemaker.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
Citizengas on 21/11/2019(UTC), Citizengas on 21/11/2019(UTC)
JohnW  
#4 Posted : 21 November 2019 12:39:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
JohnW

Citizengas, I don't work much with construction sites but I recently re-drafted my 'medical questionnaire' for DRIVERS for a bus company (AFTER employment though some questions are asked before); these may not all be relevant for a construction site though some operatives may drive dumper trucks, telehandlers etc).

Are you affected by any of these health conditions which may affect entitlement to drive:

Stroke including “mini strokes” 

Cardiac implants

Any heart condition or heart operation

Diabetes

Prescription medication which causes drowsiness

Parkinson’s disease

Narcolepsy or sleep apnoea syndrome

Severe head injury or brain tunour involving in-patient treatment at hospital

Long term neurological conditions, serious memory problems or episodes of confusion

Serious psychiatric illness or mental ill-health

Loss of sight in one eye, or other significant reduction in sight or visual field

Mobility or flexibility problems which affect ability to use controls or turn in the seat

Epilepsy, fits or blackouts, repeated attacks of dizziness

Dependence on or misuse of alcohol, illicit drugs or chemical substances in the past three years (not including drink / driving offences)

If any yes answers above, have you seen your GP and confirmed whether a declaration is required to DVLA?    Yes/No       If yes please give further details.

(regarding drink/driving offences the bus company can access that data using their CPT software (Confederation of Passenger Transport).

Edited by user 21 November 2019 12:43:21(UTC)  | Reason: formatting typos

thanks 1 user thanked JohnW for this useful post.
Citizengas on 21/11/2019(UTC)
chris.packham  
#5 Posted : 21 November 2019 14:32:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris.packham

If you were to list all the many different health issues that could be relevant in terms of needing some form of management within a workplace I think the outcome could well be that the applicant would feel that your workplace was so dangerous that working there might not be a good idea! Furthermore, if they then listed several less common health issues would you be able to identify them and assess the potential impact they might have on their ability to work normally.

I have suffered for many years with pronounced atrial fibrillation. In theory this puts me at high risk of a stroke. How would you rate this if I were to declare it?

Yet it is being managed perfectly happily with  modern medication and does not affect my work in the least. So is it relevant as far as my work is concerned?

I would tend towards the approach of asking them if they know of any health issue they have that your organisation might wish to make appropriate adjustment for.

stevedm  
#6 Posted : 21 November 2019 15:08:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

Gerry

Of you look at the construction better health list for OH you can refine your checklist to that which covers individual job/ trade roles...

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