Are you complying with legislation? Are you as the contractor ensuring a safe and healthy work environment for your employees? Do you understand how to manage the restrictions received on the medical certificates of fitness?
Don’t despair the KZN Master Builders Occupational Health Clinic is here to help, guide and assist you with all your Occupational Health and Safety requirements.
Legislation requires proof that medical surveillance has been performed and that your employees issued with a certificate of fitness (COF). The certificate reflects a specific minimum amount of information that can be made available to the client.
The value of medical outcomes and successful management thereof is a function of the employer, the employer needs to effectively manage the outcomes, distribution of information and the correct filing and storage of information.
The following information will appear on the Certificate of Fitness
· Name, I.D. number, company and job.
· Risk exposure as obtained from annexure 3
· Tests and examinations performed
· Restrictions
· Referral to other health care providers
· Fitness status
· Period of fitness
· Signatures of examining Sister and Doctor
Proper Data Application
Proper data application is governed by the exact interaction between occupational health (occupational hygiene and medicine), human resources and line management to fit the man to the job safely – thus the physical and mental fitness to perform the job in areas where the hazards and risks are known.
This entails:
· The selection and appointment of the best candidate for the job i.e. pre-employment,
o transfer and promotion.
· Fit to remain in the job in a specific area
· Fit to perform the new – skills required
· Fit to perform the job in a new area – new risk exposure.
· The crux of the matter:
We must know exactly what people are doing and where they perform the work.
Restricted Work – Risk Areas
Noise zone - The measured noise levels level exceeds 85decibels (time weighted average)
Respiratory risk area - The measured airborne pollutants exceed 10% of the occupational exposure limit (dust and fumes) and 50% of the occupational exposure limit (gases)
Heat stress area - The temperature exceeds 30 degrees WBGT
Restrictions
Work in a noise zone - Employee may not perform work in a noise zone as identified by the RBM hygienist and is demarcated accordingly.
Work in a respiratory risk area - Employee may not work in, or enter a respiratory risk zone as identified by the occupational hygienist and is demarcated accordingly.
Work in a heat stress area - Employee may not perform strenuous work in a heat stress area. Both the components must be present
Radiation areas - Employee may not work in, or enter a radiation area as identified by the Radiation Protection Officer and is demarcated accordingly.
Driving – Codes A1, A, B or EB - Employee not allowed to drive ‘light vehicles” – this restriction will almost always be coupled to the restriction for “heavy driving”
Driving - codes C1, C, EC1 or EC - Employee not allowed to operate any heavy mobile equipment. Rule of thumb – any vehicle with a weight in excess of 3500kg or that carries more than 14 passengers.
Heights, open water, fire, electricity or moving machinery - This restriction is almost always reserved for epileptic employees or with central nervous system disorders.
We hope you will find this information shared useful. Keep an eye out on our webpage for regular updates and info relating to Occupational Health Care.
Elishya Abbu / Assistant Manager: Occupational Health
