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Under the Working Time Directive, an employer has to offer all employees that work nights a pre-employment and regular health assessment.
Typically, we would assess health and suitability to work nights in a two stage approach:
1. A paper based assessment - we would review a questionnaire completed by the individual. This is looking for a history of certain conditions and / or related symptoms. Anybody identified to be 'at risk' will be referred to the next stage.
2. A physical review - anybody identified as 'at risk' will be reviewed on site by an Occupational Health Professional and the issue highlighted on the questionnaire will be investigated further. A report with an action plan or recommendation will be produced for each person.
The conditions typically looked for are:
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Heart trouble
Pulmonary disorders (Asthma)
INtestinal problems
Kidney disease
Mental illness
Chronic sleep disorders / problems
Joint, back and neck problems
Just because somebody may be suffering from one (or more) of the above, it does not automatically mean they are uisuitable for night working. The important aspect of this process is to identify the risk factors and manage them effectively so that the employee's health or other peoples' safety remain unaffected.
