Employee Medical Check Up, Here's What You Should Know

Employee medical check-up is a medical check-up carried out on employees or prospective employees in a company the place work. Inspection health It aims to detect health problems caused by activity inpeworkor that can affect the ability to carry out work.

Employee medical check-up is one of the occupational health and safety (K3) programs that need to be carried out by each company to find out the current condition of the health of employees or prospective employees.

This is important so that the company can determine the ability of employees to carry out a job based on their health condition, as well as prevent illness or accidents that may be caused by certain hazards or conditions in the work environment.

Ensuring the health of employees supported by a safe work environment not only affects employee performance and productivity, but also affects the productivity and reputation of the company as a whole.

Indication Employee Medical Check Up

By knowing the health condition of employees, the benefits that can be obtained by employees and the company itself include:

• Determining the ability of employees to do a job, so as to reduce the risk of accidents and occupational diseases
• Anticipate early health problems that may occur as a risk from work and prevent them from developing further
• Knowing early signs of general health disorders, so as to reduce the risk of complications and determine the next steps for handling
• Increase employee awareness to implement a healthy lifestyle, and always comply with K3 regulations in a company, such as using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Helping companies to evaluate existing OSH regulations and correct any that are lacking

Potential Hazards and Risks in the Work Environment

Each work environment has its own potential hazards and risks. The forms of potential hazards and the level of risk can vary and vary from company to company. The potential hazards and risks of occupational safety and health include:

Danger of chemical factors

Some chemicals found in the work environment can cause health problems or damage to organs. These chemicals can enter the human body in various ways, from inhalation, ingestion, to absorption into the skin.

Danger of physical factors

Examples of hazards from physical factors are:

• Noise

  At a certain level of sound and time (usually long term), noise can damage the nerves in the ear, causing permanent hearing loss.

• Lighting

  Insufficient lighting in the workplace, in the long term can increase the risk of impaired vision and posture, because workers have to bend down to focus vision.

• Vibration

  If workers operate a vibrating tool or machine too often, there is a possibility that the vibration from the machine will cause disturbances to the blood vessels and blood circulation in the hands.

• work climate

  Each work environment should have an appropriate work climate. The working climate is a combination of temperature, humidity, and air circulation. A work environment that is too hot or cold, humid, and poorly ventilated can increase the risk of spreading infection.

• Electromagnetic waves

  Electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays, ultraviolet or infrared, can cause skin and eye irritation.

Danger of biological factors

Viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites can be spread in the work environment or passed from one worker to another. Each of these microorganisms can cause different health problems, some of which can even cause death.

Ergonomic hazards

Indirectly, ergonomic factors, such as the arrangement of the workplace and the arrangement of the sitting position, can cause a number of health problems, such as muscle tension and excessive fatigue.

Danger of personal and psychosocial factors

A work environment that does not have good management and work organization can cause pressure on workers and end up being stressed.

Work-related stress has the potential to affect the psychological and physical health of workers, as well as company productivity. Mental health problems and stress-related disorders are considered to be one of the leading causes of early retirement, impaired overall health, and low productivity.

Type of Employee Medical Check Up

The following are several types of employee medical check-ups:

1. Medical check up before work (pre-employment medical check-up)

Medical check-up before work is a medical check-up that is carried out before a prospective worker is accepted as an employee. This medical check-up includes a complete physical examination, X-rays of the lungs, and routine laboratories.

2. Regular medical check-ups (regular medical check-up)

Periodic medical check-ups are health checks that are carried out periodically, in accordance with the potential hazards and risks in the work environment. Regular medical check-ups are carried out at least once a year.

The examination carried out is the same as a medical check-up before work, but can be added with other examinations according to possible complaints or doctor's considerations.

3. Special medical check-up

A special medical check-up is a medical examination carried out to detect the effect of work on certain workers or groups of workers. This medical check-up is carried out on:

• Workers who have an accident or suffer from an illness that requires more than 2 weeks of treatment
• Workers over 40 years old, as well as workers with disabilities
• Workers who are suspected of having certain health problems and need to be subjected to special examinations as needed
• Certain groups of workers, such as OGUK for workers offshore, MedEx for pilots, or for commercial driver

Warning Employee Medical Check Up

There are several things that need to be known before conducting an employee medical check-up, namely:

• Tell your doctor about any medications, including supplements and herbal products that you are currently taking, because they are feared that they may affect the results of your medical check-up.
• Avoid drinking cold water and exercising before having an EKG. Cold water and exercise can affect the EKG results.
• For pregnant women, avoid the type of examination that uses X-rays, because X-ray radiation is at risk of harming the fetus.
• For women, avoid taking a urine test 7 days before or after menstruation, because menstrual blood can contaminate the urine and affect the results of the examination.
• Avoid consuming alcohol at least 24 hours before a medical check-up, as it can affect test results.
• For smokers, avoid smoking at least one hour before undergoing a pulmonary function test (spirometry), because it will interfere with the results of the examination.

Before Medical Check Up Employees

Before undergoing a medical check-up, there are several things that employees or prospective employees need to do, namely:

• Fasting for 8-12 hours, depending on the type of examination to be performed.
• Get enough sleep for at least 6 hours, because lack of sleep can cause the results of the examination of blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature to be less good.
• Wear short sleeves, making it easier for the doctor to access the upper arm to take a blood sample.
• If you have or are currently suffering from health problems, it is recommended to bring the results of previous examinations, such as the results of laboratory tests or X-rays.

Employee Medical Check Up Procedure

Employee medical check-up consists of a series of examination procedures. The type of examination will generally be adjusted to the age, gender, type of work, and health condition of the employee. Employee medical check-up procedures may include:

Health history check

Medical history examination is the earliest stage in the medical check-up process. At this stage, the doctor will ask the patient several questions, such as:

• Health complaints that may be experienced by the patient
• The patient's medical history, including health problems that have been suffered recently or in the past
• The patient's surgical history
• Medicines being consumed
• Allergy to certain drugs or foods
• Family health history
• The patient's current lifestyle

Vital sign check

Some of the patient's vital signs that the doctor will examine at this stage are:

• Heart rate

  The normal heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute.

• Respiratory rate

  Normal breathing ranges from 12–20 times per minute.

• Body temperature

  The average normal body temperature is 36–37o

• Blood pressure

  This examination aims to detect whether the patient suffers from hypertension or hypotension. Normal blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg.

Physical examination

The doctor will begin a physical examination by weighing the patient's weight and measuring the patient's height. After that, the doctor will perform an examination of a number of body parts, which include:

• Head and neck examination

  The patient will be asked to open his mouth wide so that the doctor can examine the condition of the throat and tonsils. The doctor will also examine the condition of the teeth and gums, ears, nose, eyes, lymph nodes, and thyroid gland.

• Lung examination

  The doctor will use a stethoscope to check for abnormal sounds that may occur in the lungs.

• Heart check

  This examination aims to check for an irregular heartbeat or other signs that indicate a heart problem using a stethoscope.

• Abdominal examination

  In this examination, the doctor will press on the patient's abdomen to check the size of the liver and the presence of abdominal fluid, and listen for bowel sounds using a stethoscope.

• Skin check

  This examination is done to detect the presence or absence of disorders of the skin and nails.

• Nerve exam

  The purpose of the neurological examination is to measure muscle strength, body reflexes, and balance that may be disturbed.

Doctors can also perform additional physical examinations on patients if deemed necessary. Additional physical examination will be carried out according to the patient's complaints.

Mental check

Mental examination is carried out by asking general and specific questions related to the mental health of employees, such as:

• The purpose of applying for a job and the purpose of receiving a job
• Satisfaction about self and work environment
• Motivation to work

Supporting investigation

To get more accurate results, there are several types of supporting examinations in employee medical check-ups, namely:

• Laboratory examination

  Laboratory tests are carried out by taking blood, urine, or stool samples. These three samples will be assessed based on physical appearance, chemical substances contained, and microscopically with the aid of a microscope. Here is the explanation:

  • blood test

    Blood tests are performed to count the number of blood cells, chemical markers of organ function, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, and kidney function.

  • Urine test (urinalysis)

    Urine test aims to detect urinary tract disorders or infections. Urine tests can also be used to detect other diseases, such as diabetes.

  • Stool test

    Stool or feces contains bacteria and other substances that are in the digestive system. Through the analysis of the levels of substances and bacteria in the stool, the condition of the patient's digestive system can be known. This can help doctors diagnose diseases, such as gastroenteritis and colitis.

• X-rays and ultrasound

  Meanwhile, ultrasound is usually done to see the condition of organs in more detail, such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, and bladder. Ultrasound can also detect infection or inflammation that may occur in the body's organs.

• Electrocardiography (ECG)

  During the examination, the patient will be laid on a table, while the EKG machine will record the patient's heart activity. ECG is sometimes also done when the patient is doing activities, such as walking or running on the ground

• Spirometry

  Spirometry is a test to check lung function using a spirometer. This device will record the amount of air inhaled and exhaled, as well as measuring the patient's breathing rate. Spirometry can detect conditions, such as asthma, COPD, and restrictive lung diseases (eg interstitial pulmonary fibrosis).

• Color blind test

  The Ishihara method is the most commonly used type of color blindness test. In this method, the patient will be asked to name the colored numbers that are inserted between the color dots. If the patient sees incorrectly, has difficulty, or cannot see the numbers, there is a possibility that the patient is color blind.

As previously explained, the types of examinations carried out on employees will be adjusted to their age, type of work, and the risks or hazards that exist in their work environment.

For example, for employees who work in a noisy environment, regular hearing checks can be done with a hearing test (audiometry). Meanwhile, employees who work with certain chemicals can monitor the levels of these chemicals in the blood.

Not only the type of examination, how often medical check-ups are carried out is also determined by the hazards in the work environment and the age of the employees themselves.

After Medical Check Up Employees

After a medical check-up, generally employees will be allowed to carry out their usual activities. The results of the medical check-up will then be evaluated by the doctor.

There are several criteria made to determine the health status of workers, namely:

• Fit to work/Fit to the job

  Employees are declared to be in good health and safe to do their jobs.

• Fit with restrictions

  Employees are declared in a healthy condition to do a job, but there are limitations in the work determined by the company so as not to affect their health.

• Temporary unfit

  Employees are declared to have health problems that are at risk of affecting their work, but can still improve if treated.

• Permanent unfit

  Employees are declared unable to do work because of the risk of causing danger, either to the employee himself or to other workers in his work environment.

Example of Employee Medical Check Up

High-risk occupational groups have certain standards in determining eligibility (fit) or not a worker to do his job. Some examples of employee medical check-up standards used in this work class are:

OGUK medical for workers offshore(offshore)

OGUK medical conducted every 2 years to determine whether or not an employee is safe working in the environment offshore. The inspections carried out include:

• Health history check
• Vital sign check
• Examination of body mass index (BMI) by calculating weight and height
• Examination of near and far vision (vision), as well as color blindness test
• Lung function tests (spirometry)
• Hearing test (audiometry)
• urine test

MedEx for pilots

To determine whether a pilot is airworthy or not based on his health condition, it is necessary to do a medical check-up with MedEx standards which is carried out at the Aviation Health Center (Hatpen Hall). This inspection includes, among others:

• Health history check
• Physical examination
• Eye exam
• Dental check-up
• Laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests
• X-ray of the lungs
• Lung function tests (spirometry)
• ECG and EKG examination treadmill
• Hearing test (audiometry)
• Examination of brain electrical activity (electroencephalography/EEG)

Certificate for commercial driver

Referring to the US Department of Transportation, commercial driver, such as truck drivers carrying goods and tourism bus drivers, are required to do a medical check-up at least once every 2 years to get a work-worthy certificate. The inspections carried out included:

• Health history check
• Vital sign check
• General physical examination, from head to toe, including neurological examination
• Visual examination, visual examination is carried out with snellen chart
• Hearing test, with whisper test and audiometry
• Laboratory tests of blood and urine, including blood sugar and protein in urine
• Check blood pressure and heart rate