Pre-employment Functional Assessments are a cost-effective strategy to help assess candidates’ capacity to perform inherent role tasks based on their medical and physical capacities. Pre-employment functional assessment process gathers objective information to help determine whether a candidate is fit to perform the upcoming role tasks without risk to themselves or others in the workplace.
Background
Previously the application of medical principles was a static approach. Recently techniques of systematic review of data of clinical guidelines and economic analyses have become more established. The application of these methods in occupational medicine will improve the quality of prevention and would also enable practitioners to give more soundly based advice and to secure their professional positions as providers of quality-assured information.
The consensus was that fitness for work is mainly determined by physical demands and not by medical conditions (with psychiatric conditions a possible exception). In addition, the assessment of fitness for work is a better predictor of future health outcomes and costs than medical diagnoses.
Any health assessment should be appropriate to the requirements of the job role. Medical assessments are only justified when the job involves working in hazardous environments, requires high standards of fitness, required by law or when the safety of other workers or of the public is concerned.
Generally, a health assessment by questionnaire is a foundation and allied health professionals should advise against the application of physical or mental standards that are not relevant to fulfilment of the essential job functions.
Accordingly, to satisfy duty-of-care requirements without discriminating against applicants, it is important to undertake a case-specific assessment of risk. To accomplish this, knowledge of the relevant medical history, the proposed job and the work location is required. There are numerous benefits to conducting pre-employment medical assessments. These include a safer work environment, and a reduction in workplace injuries and in turn this will minimise downtime and WorkCover claims/insurance costs. This method also helps match the capacity of the employee to the role and promotes the reduction of risk and cost.
Pre-Employment Functional Assessments
Pre-employment functional assessments are evaluations used by employers to determine if a potential candidate has the physical capabilities to perform the job they are applying for without undue risk to themselves or others. Key aspects include:
Purpose
- Safety – ensures that the candidate can safely perform the physical tasks required by the job
- Fit for Role – assesses whether the candidate’s physical abilities match the job’s demands
- Injury Prevention – helps in reducing the risk of workplace injuries by identifying any physical limitations beforehand
Components
- Medical Review – a general health check to identify any medical conditions that might affect job performance
- Musculoskeletal Assessment – evaluates the strength, flexibility, and endurance of muscles and joints
- Cardiovascular Testing – assesses the candidate’s cardiovascular fitness and endurance
- Functional Tasks – includes job-specific tasks such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling to simulate actual work conditions
Benefits
- Reduced Absenteeism – ensuring employees are physically capable, reduces the likelihood of injuries and related absences
- Improved Productivity – employees who are fit for their roles are likely to be more productive
- Legal Compliance – helps employers comply with occupational health and safety regulations
- Reduced Workplace Injuries & Claims – although not guaranteed, businesses who invest in Pre-employment Functional Assessments, will typically experience lower workplace injuries and resulting workers compensation claims
Process
The assessment typically takes approximately 60-90 minutes depending on scope and is conducted by trained allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, exercise physiologists (EP) or occupational therapists (OT). It includes a series of tests and evaluations tailored to the specific physical requirements of the job.
Need help?
To ensure validity of the Pre-employment Functional Assessment, it is important that assessments are performed by an allied health professional. At ABILITY GROUP, our allied HEALTH ABILITY allied health professionals conduct pre-employment functional assessments for a diverse range of clients. Contact our team to discuss how Pre-employment Functional Assessments can benefit your business organisation.