The purpose of occupational health examinations is to find out the current health status of the worker and assess whether it is necessary to set certain restrictions for their work performance, or to exclude them from their work performance. The aim of this regulation is to protect the health of the worker, their co-workers and other persons in the workplace. The legal regulation is contained mainly in Act No 373/2011, on specific health services, and implementing legal regulations (e.g. Decree of the Ministry of Health No 79/2013).
Initial examination
Prior to the commencement of employment, the employer is obliged to ensure that a natural person undergoes an initial medical examination (see Section 32 of the Labour Code). In the case of workers performing work on the basis of an agreement to complete a job or an agreement to perform work, the employer has this obligation only in the cases stipulated by Section 59(1)(b) of Act No 373/2011, on specific health services.
The employer is obliged to pay for the initial examination for all successful candidates and also unsuccessful candidates if they are a juvenile or if they do work at night.
Periodic examination
Periodic medical examinations are performed at regular intervals to detect early changes in the health of the worker that may arise in connection with the health demands of work, or the ageing of the human body. The dates for periodic examinations vary depending on the category of work, the age of the worker, etc. For more details, see Section 11 of Decree of the Ministry of Health No 79/2013.
Extraordinary examination
An extraordinary examination is performed to determine the health of the assessed worker in the event of reasonable assumption that there has been a worsening or change of medical fitness for work, or if there is an increase in the risk of a risk factor of working conditions previously taken into account. It must be carried out in specific cases, but also on the basis of a request submitted by the employer on their own initiative or on the initiative of the worker themselves. For more details, see Section 12 of Decree of the Ministry of Health No 79/2013.
Exit examination
The exit examination is performed to determine the health of the worker at the time of termination of work, in specific cases (for more details, see Section 13 of Decree of the Ministry of Health No 79/2013) It is also carried out if the employer so requests or the worker so requests through the employer.