What is the purpose of an occupational medical examination?
The purpose of the occupational medical examination is to determine whether you have the medical fitness for a particular occupational activity. In other words: the occupational doctor determines whether your current health condition allows you to perform the job or whether, on the contrary, you have certain illnesses or limitations that would prevent you from performing this specific job. For example, if you suffer from epilepsy, working at height will not be suitable for you, as a seizure could result in serious injury. Each job has different health requirements for the employee. Your employer is obliged not to let you perform work that does not match your abilities and medical fitness.
Section 103 (1) (a) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code
Am I required to undergo an occupational medical examination?
Yes.
As an employee, you are required to undergo occupational medical examinations, tests, or vaccinations specified by special legal regulations.
Section 106 (4) (b) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code
Will my employer know details about my health?
No.
The employer will receive a medical opinion from the examination, stating whether or not you are medically fit for work or that you are medically fit with a condition, or that you have long lost your medical fitness. The reason for your unfitness or your illnesses and health problems not related to the work will not appear in the assessment. Even a doctor providing occupational health services must observe medical confidentiality.
Section 43 (3) of Act No. 373/2011 Coll., on specific health services
When is an initial examination conducted?
The initial examination will be conducted before you start your new employment relationship. Your employer should send you for it before the start of the employment relationship (i.e., before the day stated in the employment contract as the start date). For agreements on work performed outside the employment relationship (agreement to perform work, agreement to complete a job), it is necessary to undergo it if the work is risky or if conditions of medical fitness are specified for the performance of the work by legal regulations. You will also need to undergo an initial medical examination if:
- you are transferred to another job;
- conditions of your work change, e.g. an increase in risks in your work or you will be newly engaged in risky work.
When is a periodic examination conducted?
The purpose of the periodic medical examination is to verify that you are medically fit to continue to perform your work. Periodic examinations are mandatory for risky work (work classified in categories 2 hazardous, 3, and 4) and for employees performing work or activities that involve occupational risk. Employees undergo a periodic examination in the specified intervals dates according to the category of work. For category 1 and 2, although intervals are also set, its completion is not mandatory. They are conducted when required by the employee or employer.
The aforementioned intervals shall not apply if other legal regulations or annexes to Decree No. 79/2013 Coll. are specified.
When is an extraordinary examination performed?
An extraordinary examination is conducted in cases where there is a risk of loss or change in your medical fitness for work. This may be a situation where work has been interrupted for a long time:
- due to illness for more than 8 weeks,
- after an accident with severe consequences,
- for other reasons for more than 6 months.
You should undergo the extraordinary examination within 5 working days of starting work again. An extraordinary examination is also conducted if your working conditions have deteriorated and the riskiness of your work has increased. You can also request an extraordinary examination on your own initiative, as can your employer.
When is the exit examination conducted?
The exit examination is conducted after the termination of your employment with the employer, in cases where you:
- performed risky work (work classified in categories 2 hazardous, 3, and 4),
- have been recognized with an occupational disease or a risk of an occupational disease during the period of employment with the current employer,
- you have suffered an occupational injury with that employer which has repeatedly left you incapacitated for work,
- in other cases.
From the exit examination, you will be issued a confirmation of its conduct instead of a medical opinion You and your employer can request an exit examination upon termination of the employment relationship.
When is a follow-up examination conducted?
A follow-up examination is conducted to timely detect changes in your health status, for the purpose of ensuring timely provision of necessary medical care or compensation. Typically, these will be cases where you come into contact with hazardous substances such as asbestos, silica dust or carcinogenic substances at work. In these cases, health problems may occur several years after exposure. You or your employer cannot ask for a follow-up examination. Its conducting is decided by the public health protection authority (in the Czech Republic, Regional Hygiene Stations), or it may be stipulated by another legal regulation. No medical opinion is issued from the follow-up examination.
Can I undergo an occupational health examination with my registered general practitioner?
Yes, if your employer refers you to them and if you perform work classified as first category (non-risk work). However, the employer may have a contract for the provision of occupational health services with a different specific doctor and may refer you to them.
Section 59 (1) and (2) of Act No. 373/2011 Coll., on specific health services
Who should cover the costs of the initial medical examination?
The costs of the initial medical examination are covered by the job applicant. The employer will reimburse you for these costs if they enter into an employment or similar relationship with you. You may also agree that the examination will be reimbursed even if you do not ultimately take up the job. In practice, some employers attempt to agree with employees to reimburse the cost of the initial examination only after the probationary period has passed. However, doing so is contrary to the law. The employer always covers the costs of an initial examination to assess medical fitness for night work.
Section 59 (2) of Act No. 373/2011 Coll., on specific health services
I am supposed to bring an extract from the medical records to the occupational medical examination, but I am not registered with any general practitioner in the Czech Republic. How should I handle the situation?
An extract from medical records contains information about your medical history and any past illnesses. It serves as an important source of information about your health for the physician conducting the occupational health examination. However, there is no legal obligation to have a registered general practitioner in the Czech Republic. If you cannot provide an extract from your medical records, this will be noted in your medical documentation during the occupational medical examination, and your examination will be more thorough so that the doctor can obtain the necessary information about your health.
I disagree with the medical opinion, can I appeal it?
Yes.
You and your employer will receive a medical opinion. The medical opinion shall include instruction on the possibility of filing a motion for its review and on the possibility of waiving the right to review the medical opinion. If you believe that the conclusions of the medical opinion are incorrect, you may submit a request for its review to the provider who issued the report within 10 working days from the date it was delivered to you.
Section 46 (1) of Act No. 373/2011 Coll., on specific health services