Certain workplace hazards cannot be avoided, although great efforts are being made to reduce them through modern technology (extraction, better machinery and vehicles) or protective equipment (hearing protection, respiratory protection, protective clothing).
It is therefore a precaution to protect your health to which your employer, the University of Konstanz, is legally obliged.
In connection with occupational health precautions, the terms "examination" and strange abbreviations such as "G30" or the combination of both are often used. These terms have been out of date for some time, but are still frequently used - even here at the university.
Strictly speaking, prevention is not really an examination, but a discussion or clarification. The legislator has, so to speak, understood that no one can be forced to be examined. However, depending on the situation at the workplace or your personal anamnesis ("health history"), the company doctor can recommend an examination during the interview.
The activities and conditions at the workplace often involve risks. Remember (or if you don't click here): The risk assessment is used to identify hazards at your workplace that arise from activities with machines, substances, etc. The risk assessment is based on the following criteria It identifies a risk associated with these activities of injury or possible illness and proposes countermeasures such as PPE.
Occupational health precautions go one step further: they take your personal health requirements into account.
The goals of occupational health precautions are:
- to detect and prevent work-related illnesses, including occupational diseases, at an early stage.
- to make a contribution to maintaining employability and further developing occupational health protection.
What types of prevention are there?
A distinction is made between three types of occupational health provision:
Compulsory benefits
This applies, for example, to work in controlled areas, work with radioactive materials (a suitability test can also be ordered here) or bio materials. According to the Occupational Health Precautions Ordinance (ArbMedVV), this is generally prescribed for "particularly hazardous activities". In this case, your supervisor or the personnel department will inform you at the time of recruitment that you should or even must arrange an examination appointment with the company doctor.
Supply precaution
In the case of generally hazardous activities, the examination is not mandatory. However, the offer is available. This means that you can accept the offer to be examined or not.
Wishful precaution
According to ArbMedVV and ArbSchG, you generally have the right to have your health monitored at the workplace. You can therefore also express the wish to be examined. In this case, however, you must approach the company doctor proactively.
However, with regard to occupational health care, it may be necessary in certain circumstances that you are only allowed to carry out certain activities if a medical fitness has been determined beforehand. In this case, this is referred to as an aptitude test, which, depending on the activity, can be ordered at the time of hiring (aptitude test).
However, it also becomes due if, in the course of your career, the activity profile changes or expands and tasks are added, such as
- Driving control and monitoring activities,
- Working with danger of falling,
- Working with radioactive materials,
- etc.
The aptitude test is mandatory, but is not the subject of statutory provisions, but an integral part of employment contract agreements.