[Work capacity evaluation: the final step of health surveillance]

Scuola di Specializzazione dell'Università degli Studi di Brescia.

Job fitness evaluation for specific jobs is the conclusive step of workers health surveillance. This should include a physical examination and specific tests for the evaluation of organ functions which are the target for risk factors in the working environment. Occupational physicians must assess job fitness following a specific procedure: cooperation with the employer in the process of risk assessment, creating of a medical surveillance protocol related to the existing risks, implementation of medical surveillance, evaluate of etiological diagnosis of workers' illnesses and express the job fitness assessment. Possible patterns of assessment are: no job limitations, some specific temporary or permanent job limitations, temporary or permanent unfitness. The competence of the occupational physician is crucial when addressing specific problems of the workers, such as indvidual hypersusceptibility, particular tasks, illnesses, pregnancy. The occupational physician's competence is also required after fitness evaluation when transferring the worker to a more suitable job when he is deemed unfit for a job at risk and in selecting adequate personal protective equipment. In addition, the physician must perform other duties according to the existing regulations such as informing workers to obtain their consensus and the assurance of maintaining of professional secrecy as regards personal information. The occupational physician is expected to be independent and impartial towards both employer and employees, which is obtained by up-dating professional skills and by acting with care and honesty.

PMID: 11676185 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]