The Work At Height Regulations (2005) state clearly that an individual should undergo a medical assessment before working at height – sometimes called safety critical medicals. This doesn’t mean that you need to have an assessment before every work day or every working at height task, but you should have undergone a medical assessment to determine how appropriate it is for you to work at height recently.
But how recent is recent? At Altus Safety we recommend that all employees who carry out work at height should be assessed medically each year. If you’re responsible for the safety of workers whilst working at height, then you might also require additional assessments depending on a person’s age, fitness, and recent medical history.
As with all things work at height, it’s better to be safe than sorry so if you have any reason to doubt your own or another person’s ability to carry out work at height safely, then you should speak up and a medical assessment should be carried out before any more work is carried out.
Why Working At Height Without A Medical Is A Risk
Although the Work At Height Regulations suggest that a medical assessment should be carried out before any work is carried out by an individual, you don’t necessarily have to.
If you don’t, however, and an accident occurs due to you, or your employee, not being medically fit to conduct the work, then you’ll almost certainly be liable for any compensation that may be sought.
Failing to get the appropriate medical before carrying out a task at height is at best, reckless and at worse, deadly.
Working at height is dangerous enough without playing a game of chance. At Altus Safety we have a range of height safety and roof access systems designed to make working at height safer, and we’re leading experts in the industry. If there’s a company that understands the consequences of failing to treat working at height with the respect it deserves, it’s us.
If you’re someone who works at height, or you’re someone who is responsible for the safety of those who work at height, then it’s your duty to ensure a proper medical assessment is carried out before any work begins, and that an annual medical assessment confirming that a worker is still fit to work at height happens annually thereafter.
Who Requires A Medical Before Working At Height?
Anybody who conducts work at height:
- Construction workers
- Workers in the roofing industry
- Window cleaners
- Miners
- Abseilers
You name it – if a person works at height, then they need an appropriate medical assessment to ensure they’re safe to do so.
What’s Included In A Work At Height Medical Assessment?
Although each medical practice will carry out their assessments in slightly different ways, all of them will focus on the following categories to ensure you’re fit to work at height and carry out safety critical tasks:
- General health
- Auditory abilities
- Visual abilities
- Musculoskeletal health
- Breathing assessment
Remember the point of a safety critical medical assessment is to prevent workplace accidents and assess risks accurately. Be honest to reduce your risk of injury down the line.
General Health
A general health assessment will usually just involve a medical professional asking you questions about your health, lifestyle and fitness to see if you’re in good or ill health. They might ask about the number of units of alcohol you consume each week, whether or not you smoke, and they’ll also take your height, weight, and BMI in most cases. They’re essentially assessing your health risks to see if working at height is safe for you.
This part of the assessment is to get an idea about any medical conditions you might currently have, or might be at a greater risk of developing, that might bar you from carrying out work at height safely. If a medical condition might affect an employee’s ability to carry out a task safely, then the employer will be informed.
Auditory Abilities
Assessing your auditory abilities basically means you’ll undergo a hearing test.
Being able to hear clearly could be an important part of working at height safely. You might need to hear warnings from other workers (common on construction sites) or generally need to be able to listen to instructions whilst working at height to make the task even safer.
Not all tasks you can carry out at height will require sharp auditory abilities, so you won’t necessarily fail your medical assessment for this depending on the nature of your work. An advisory note may be given to your employer, however, to make clear that certain tasks or roles might put you at increased risk.
Your hearing is also related to balance, which could place you at real risk whilst working at height. This will also be assessed during your auditory exam.
Visual Abilities
Seeing clearly is vital for most work at height tasks. That’s not to say you need perfect vision and if you require glasses or contact lenses you’ll be classed as not fit to work at height. This part of the assessment is really just to help medical professionals understand your visual capabilities.
Advice will be given if you’re fit to work at height but require some adjustments or are excluded from certain tasks as a result of your assessment.
Musculoskeletal Health
Your musculoskeletal exam will typically involve a systematic assessment of your bones, joints, and muscles to ensure that they’re working as they should and without pain.
Say, for example, a worker who is responsible for carrying out work at height up an access ladder is suffering from a bad back. The pain is enough for them to feel uncomfortable, but not enough in their view to stop them from working. Whilst up the ladder, the worker’s back goes into spasm and seizes, causing a fall.
A thorough musculoskeletal exam could have prevented that fall from happening in the first place. That’s just one of the reasons a proper medical exam is so important.
Breathing Assessment
Also known as spirometry, a breathing assessment is designed to assess your lung capacity and breathing function to ensure your respiratory system is working as it should.
This part of the assessment is designed to help spot any underlying health issues you might be unaware of that could cause a risk if you fall whilst working at height.
How Can I Arrange A Work At Height Medical?
If you’re an employee your employer should be able to help you with arranging a medical. Some companies offer occupational health services as part of their benefits package.
Failing that, you can always approach your GP yourself. Contact the reception and ask about a work at height medical assessment (safety critical medicals) to satisfy the health and safety requirements of your job.
You’ll usually be booked in as soon as possible and the results ought to be available within a week.
What Happens If I Pass My Medical?
If you pass your work at height medical, then good news: you’re free to work at height taking any precautions or advice given to you during the assessment into account.
You should then follow up with a medical assessment annually thereafter to ensure you are still fit to work at height. If you feel any changes between each assessment that may impact your ability to work at height safely, then you should not go to work and seek appropriate medical help to clear you for further work.
What Happens If I Don’t Pass My Medical?
If you don’t pass your medical then you will simply be unable to carry out work at height safely. This can be difficult to hear if your role requires you to complete work at height, but it’s important that you follow all medical advice or else you put yourself and others at risk.
Do You Need A Medical To Work At Height – Final Thoughts
In short, yes, you need a medical to work at height in the UK. Being cleared to work at height means you satisfy the relevant health and safety legislation and ensures you aren’t responsible for any accidents that may occur due to any unforeseen medical conditions.
If you’re an employer, then it’s vital that all workers are assessed annually. This keeps them safe whilst ensuring you won’t be held liable should an accident occur due to a medical issue.
If you require any help at your site or building with regards to edge protection, roof access, or fall restraint systems for those working at height, then contact our team today.