Guidelines for fitness-to-work examinations.

Fitness-to-work examinations require an objective assessment of the physical and mental health of employees in relation to the requirements and working conditions of specific jobs, to ensure that the workers will not be a hazard to themselves or others. Whether conducted by specialists in occupational medicine or other physicians, the proper performance of these examinations requires a clear understanding of the types of examinations and their purposes and how to serve and protect the interests of all three parties: employee, employer and physician. The circumstances in which fitness-to-work examinations are required are listed, and a method to help physicians in judging fitness to work is described. This method balances the rights and obligations of both employee and employer without compromising the physician's need to practise medicine skillfully and ethically.