Periodical medical checks

The periodical medical check is an opportunity to review the worker’s health, to inquire on the medical consequences of the occupational exposures at work and ensures that the employee is able to work.

Periodical medical checks : Labor code
Frequency of the medical examinations
Further details on medical check

Periodical medical checks : Labor code

When medical supervision is not strenghtened

If the medical supervision is not stenghtened , according to the labor code article R 4624-16  ,  the employees benefit from health check up every 24 months, or more,  if the Occupational health service  organize health talks with nurse between two medical checks with the occupational physician and multidisciplinary actions every year ( for some professional sectors or geographical areas, but not for individual companies

When medical supervision is strenghtened

When the employee is exposed to certain occupational risks, physical, chemical or biological, the medical supervision has to be strengthened, but also when the worker has an individual situation which is particular.

According to the Franch Labour Code (article R. 4624-19), the periodical medical checks take place every 12 months or every 24 months : the health occupational physician can decide to change the frequency of the medical examinations  in line with recommendations for good practice which are available in health at work.

For employees who are exposed to ionising radiations, only A category  employees  have a strengthened medical supervision, while B category employees have a simple medical supervision. But for the A category employees, the medical examination is necessary annual.

Frequency of the medical examinations

•  Every 24 months if it is a simple medical surveillance
• Every year if it is a strengthened supervision in case of exposure to specific occupational hazards or in case of particular personal situations ( pregnant women, disabled worker, etc)
• According to the French Labour Code (article L 3122-42 and article R 3122-19), when an employee work during the night, the periodical medical checks must take place every 6 months.

The health occupational physician can decide to change the frequency of the medical examinations  in line with recommendations for good practices which are available in health at work.

Further details on medical check

Some testings are done in the occupational health service : urinary examination, eye test, lung function tests, etc but sometimes he needs additional testings, according to the professional exposure.

Cost of additional testings prescribed by the health physician

The occupational doctor may request additional medical examinations such chest x-ray, blod test

When the enterprise has its own occupational health service ( called in French “service autonome de santé au travail”), it is the employer who has to pay for these additional testings and when it is an inter-company occupational service, it is the occupational service which has to pay, according to the French Labour Code (article R 4624-26 ).

Since july 2012, the additional testings have to be done on condition of anonymity.

Certificate issued during the periodical medical check-up

A report is filed by the occupational physician after each medical examination. The doctor has to give his opinion : the employee is fit or unfit to work, a workstation layout is necessary, etc

One copy of this certificate of fitness for work  is given to the employer and the other is for the employee. Usually the occupational physician keep a copy too in the medical record of occupational health.

According to the French Labour Code (Article R 4624-35 and Article R 4624-36)

The employer or the employee may contest the opinion delivered by the occupational physician : he has the right to an administrative appeal with the labour inspector. They have a maximum period of 2 months to dispute the doctor’s opinion.

Time spent on the medical examination

Time spent on the medical examination and on prescribed tests is taken on working time or is compensated and tranport costs too.

You can read also the following posts :

• Occupational health services
• Simple medical surveillance
• Strengthened medical supervision in case of exposure to specific occupational hazards
• Strengthened medical supervision in case of particular personal situations
• Pre-recruitment medical examination
• Reinstatement visit
• Optional medical examinations