Fitness for Work & Return to Work Advice
Are your employees fit to do their jobs safely? Fit for Work Medicals is a medical assessment helps you confirm that employees can carry out their roles without placing themselves, their colleagues, or the public at risk.
Importantly, these assessments play a vital role in your wider risk assessment strategy. They actively reduce workplace incidents, support compliance with health and safety legislation, and give you confidence that you have taken sensible, proportionate steps to protect both your workforce and your business.
Driver medicals, including forklift truck operators
Driving remains one of the highest-risk activities carried out at work. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, work-related driving continues to be one of the most dangerous tasks employees undertake.
For this reason, forklift truck operators and other workplace drivers must demonstrate medical fitness to operate vehicles safely. A Fit for Work driver medical helps identify health conditions or medication effects that could impair alertness, coordination, or concentration.
To remain effective, fitness-to-drive assessments should:
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take place with an occupational health professional
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occur at appropriate intervals
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follow long-term sickness absence or a significant change in health
In addition, the Health and Safety Executive reports that more than a quarter of road traffic accidents involve someone driving for work, which reinforces the importance of regular medical review.
Fitness for working at height
The HSE defines working at height as any situation where a person could suffer injury from a fall, even at or below ground level.
Therefore, employees who work at height must remain physically and medically capable of climbing, balancing, and working safely. Conditions such as vertigo, blackouts, poorly controlled diabetes, or medication side effects can significantly increase risk if left unchecked.
As a result, employers should consider medical assessment:
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after an accident or near miss
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following sickness absence
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when health changes may affect safety
Confined space medicals
A confined space includes any enclosed area with limited access or exit where foreseeable risks to health exist. Examples include tanks, pits, ducts, and enclosed plant rooms.
Fit for Work medical assessments help you confirm that an employee can safely enter, work within, and exit these environments. In addition, they consider risks such as reduced oxygen levels, panic responses, or physical restriction.
By addressing these factors early, assessments protect both the worker and anyone involved in emergency response.
Food handler fitness screening
For employees who work with food, employers must ensure staff remain fit and well to prevent contamination. The Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 place clear responsibilities on employers in this area.
A Fit for Work food handler assessment helps confirm that workers do not have contagious conditions or symptoms that could compromise food safety.
Night worker assessments
A night worker is defined under the Working Time Regulations 1998 as someone who regularly undertakes night work.
Because night work can worsen existing health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, and mental health concerns, employers must offer affected employees a health assessment. Although participation remains voluntary, offering the assessment remains a legal requirement.
These assessments help employers determine whether night work remains appropriate and whether adjustments or alternative duties would be more suitable.
What our Fit for Work medical assessments include
Our Fit for Work medical assessments can cover:
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Forklift truck drivers and workplace drivers
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Working at height
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Confined spaces
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Lone working
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Plant and machinery operators
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Night workers
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Food handlers
We provide Fit for Work medical assessments at our Brighton office most Fridays. Alternatively, if you have multiple employees, we can attend your site or workplace to carry out assessments efficiently and with minimal disruption.
