Does occupational medicine perform occupational health screening?

Screening is tailored to the work rather than being one identical check for every employee. A clinician may review your medical history, examine you and arrange checks related to hazards such as noise, dust, chemicals, vibration, driving, manual handling or prolonged computer work. The purpose is to identify health concerns, establish whether monitoring is needed and suggest practical controls or adjustments. A screening result does not replace care for symptoms unrelated to work, and a normal assessment does not remove the need to report new problems.

Bring the role description, information about workplace exposures, previous occupational health reports, relevant medical letters and a complete list of medicines. Describe protective equipment, shift patterns and tasks that trigger symptoms. Ask how the assessment will be conducted and what type of report the employer will receive. If you use glasses, hearing aids or other aids at work, bring them so the assessment reflects your usual working conditions.

Arrange occupational health screening when starting a role with relevant hazards, during scheduled workplace monitoring, after a work-related illness or injury, or when symptoms worsen during particular duties. Seek urgent care for severe breathing trouble, chest pain, collapse, sudden neurological symptoms or a serious injury. Report immediate hazards through your workplace process while arranging medical care.

Ask which exposure or task prompted each check, what the findings mean for your duties, whether follow-up monitoring is needed, which adjustments may help, and how quickly you should report a change in symptoms. Clarify what clinical information remains confidential and what work-related opinion is shared.