Different Types of Employment Physicals

 


In addition to education, experience, and a pristine background check, certain jobs require a clean bill of health. Employment physicals protect you from harm on the job, ensure you’re capable of performing the tasks required, and help your employer avoid liability lawsuits.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL EXAM

Whether you’re a server at a restaurant or construction worker, some jobs require a certain level of physical fitness. Employers consider your ability to perform the required tasks not only for productivity’s sake, but for your safety as well. In this case, they can require a pre-employment physical to ensure you’re in good health and have the appropriate capabilities.

However, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees from discrimination by carefully regulating this process. For instance, an employer can’t require you to undergo a pre-employment physical until they make you a contingent offer, meaning if you pass the physical, they will hire you. 

A pre-employment physical exam typically focuses on your general health as well as the specific tasks you’ll perform, so it’s helpful to bring your job description:

  • Endurance and stamina
  • Ability to lift certain weight loads
  • Balance
  • Flexibility
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Muscular tension and strength

Your pre-employment physical exam isn’t designed to discriminate, but to ensure safety. Employers who require this exam must require it of all candidates considered for the same position.

FITNESS-FOR-DUTY AND RETURN-TO-DUTY EXAMS 

If your employer believes you may not be able to perform the essential tasks of the job, they may require you to take a fitness-for-duty exam to make sure you’re not a danger to yourself or others. This exam may involve physical or psychological evaluations, or both.

If you’ve been out sick or had to take time off after an injury, your employer may ask you to take a return-to-duty exam.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) EXAMS

If you drive a bus or commercial truck or you transport hazardous materials, your health and physical fitness directly impact the safety of others. That’s why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all employees in these roles to undergo regular medical exams.

Commonly called the Department of Transportation or DOT exam, this test checks:

  • Blood pressure
  • Heart rate
  • Hearing and vision
  • Urinalysis (for conditions such as diabetes)
  • Abdomen (for hernias or liver problems)
  • Spine function
  • Lungs and breathing issues
  • Reflexes and balance

ROUTINE ANNUAL EXAMS

In the interest of safety for all employees, some companies require annual physical examinations to ensure that you’re healthy and that no underlying conditions may interfere with your ability to safely perform your job. Employers may require yearly exams, which may include:

  • Drug testing (hair and/or urine)
  • Physical fitness
  • Heart health
  • Vision and hearing test

Employment physicals are only meant to assess your ability to perform your job, so every industry has different physical exam requirements. Although there may be some overlap in the health aspects we check, employment physicals are typically not as in-depth as an annual physical that’s unrelated to your job.

Location: New York, NY, USA

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