Health inspections

Health inspections are part of occupational health care and there are many different reasons for them. The purpose is to prevent possible harm to health caused by work.

Health inspections should be carried out when starting work and at regular intervals thereafter, if the work may pose a special risk of illness. Most often, periodic inspections are carried out every 3-5 years. In some situations, they may be done more often if the worker's personal health condition requires it.

Health checks are mainly carried out by an occupational health nurse. There's a need for an occupational health doctor's examination, for example, when the worker has symptoms suggesting an occupational illness, the worker has previously been diagnosed with an occupational disease or occupational illness, or the worker has illnesses or symptoms affecting their work ability.

The employer can also, if they wish, arrange a broader occupational health care service (initial and periodic health examinations) for their employees, even if there is no particular risk of ill health at work.

An initial inspection should be done even before the start of the employment relationship or exposure if the job involves a particular risk of illness, such as night shifts or lifting heavy objects. However, at the latest within a month of starting work.

In occupational health examinations, the health status of the employee (chronic diseases, hereditary factors, lifestyle and life situation) is investigated, the employee's work capacity is assessed and supported, the need for rehabilitation is evaluated, healthy living habits are promoted, information is given about protection from job risks, and information about work is collected.

Clinical examinations, such as blood pressure measurements and microspirometry, and if necessary, other appropriate and reliable methods, are used to determine health status, work, and functional capacity. If something unusual comes up in the health examination, a doctor's examination must be done.

A statement is issued from the health inspection, which records the conclusions made based on the inspection, that is, an opinion on the suitability for work in terms of health status. The employee is also given a health inspection card marked with a validity period.

When changing employers, the need for a health examination depends on the similarity of the old and new job. If the job description remains the same, a new health examination is not necessary, as long as the initial or periodic examination has been arranged through the previous employer and is still valid. If the job description changes, a new health examination should be carried out.

Health examinations are agreed upon on a case-by-case basis.

In temporary work, the rental company is responsible for the worker's health check-ups. The rental company must arrange the temporary worker's occupational health care and inform the temporary worker about how the statutory occupational health care is arranged.