First of all, it is important to know that companies are not legally bound to send you for pre employment medicals. It’s only an option they have to find out if you are well enough or sick enough to do your job. The same thing goes about the topics discussed in this article – the company has every right to test you, but they are not obliged to.
It is also important to know that there are no legal limits for what they can check – some companies may test you on any topics they wish. Others may have a more limited list of ‘allowable’ tests, but since it’s not a law, those limits can change from company to company. It’s their right, and you better accept it if they send you for a medical.
This article is going to give you some insights on what companies may check during your medicals. Keep in mind that we can only give you general guidelines since company policies may vary.
Blood and urine samples
It is the most basic type of testing used – they check your blood and urine for any infections or diseases. They also check your liver function (measured as SGOT/SGPT), sugar levels (measured by glucose testing strips), hematocrit/hematocrit test, blood cell count, kidney function (measured by creatinine levels), and pregnancy status.
Heart rate and blood pressure
Your heart rate (measured as HR) and your blood pressure (measured as BP) are checked. It is done to check whether you suffer from any heart conditions.
Allergies and drug use
The test looks for allergies by checking if you have a history of allergy to any medications or foods. They also check if you have been taking any medication that might affect your workabilities, such as antidepressants or other drugs that should not be taken when operating machinery.
Your prescriptions are checked, which includes drugs and vitamins, supplements, and other products you might be using regularly.
The test is looking for ‘abnormal’ use of any medications which should not be taken when operating machinery or driving vehicles. It includes illegal drug use as well.
Hearing test
It is not so common these days. Companies are not legally allowed to test your hearing unless operating machinery requires a good hearing to use it properly. You might be checked with a basic audiometry test. That’s it.
Vision test
Companies are allowed to refuse you employment if you do not meet their vision requirements. Poor vision drastically hampers the ability of employees to work. Hence, companies prefer to work with employees who are medically fit for the given job.
Some companies may also check your overall health condition. You might be checked for any diabetes symptoms, you might be asked to walk ten meters with your eyes closed (to check balance), or perhaps other tests will be performed.
These are the standard medicals most companies require. If you live in a country like the United Kingdom or Austria, there may also be certain ‘standard’ tests that ALL companies in certain industries (such as construction workers) may check.
If you’re unlucky, your company will push for extra tests – most of them useless and expensive. Such types of medicals include:
Lead test
It is done only to people who work with lead products or paints regularly (usually painters and people working in construction). If you don’t, this test’s results will be irrelevant.
It checks the amount of lead and other metals in your blood and urine, but it does not show how much lead is stored inside your bones – for that, you need a different type of test (tetraethyl lead inhalation testing, or TELI – ask your doctor).
Drug test
It is also very common, especially if you live in the United States. It’s done to make sure you don’t take drugs illegally (obviously). Still, it can also be used as a tool for employers to check if their employees are taking other medications that might not be good when using machinery. Again, not that common in most of the EU.
Hair test
It is only used for certain professions in the US, such as truck drivers or airline pilots. You are required to take a hair sample from your head and send it to the testing company so that they can check for drugs taken illegally. If you haven’t taken any illegal substances, this will come back negative.
Blood test
This test is only used in the USA, and it’s very rare – most countries do not require such expensive tests to be conducted by employers (even though they offer them for free). It checks the amount of alcohol and drugs in your blood, or sometimes even if you have AIDS or similar diseases.
HIV test
Again, this is only used in the USA, and it’s usually conducted if you apply for a job that requires you to spend time with people or mingle with them – such as teachers or nurses. It was first introduced to protect employees who might be at risk of HIV infection through their jobs. Since it’s very expensive and not needed by many companies, it’s rarely used.
Physical test
It is the only type of medical test where passing or failing DOES matter. If you fail, you won’t get a job (simple as that). That’s why there are various types of these tests; one company might ask for a bench press, another might ask for a run, and another might even go as far as to conduct a small marathon. It depends on the type of job you apply for.
Bench Press
This test checks how much weight you can lift with your arms. It is very commonly used by companies worldwide – especially those who hire security officers, office workers, unskilled labor, and other similar types of people.
Tattoos/piercing
If you have any tattoos or piercings, they may be checked. If you have a tattoo that contains prohibited symbols, your employer might refuse to hire you.
Conclusion
For most people, such a medical test is nothing to be afraid of – it’s very simple and straightforward. If you’re worried about the results, do some research on what tests they might ask for and prepare accordingly!
