Fitness-for-work assessments for roles where sudden incapacity would put the employee, colleagues or the public at risk. Assessed and signed off by consultant occupational physicians.
What counts as a safety critical role
There is no single statutory list. A role is safety critical where sudden or gradual loss of function could cause serious harm, typically because the employee drives, operates plant or machinery, works at height, enters confined spaces, controls a process others depend on, or carries out emergency response duties. Common examples include rail and infrastructure workers, construction and utilities operatives, plant and crane operators, forklift drivers, first responders and control room staff.
What the assessment covers
- Occupational and medical history, including medication affecting alertness or reaction time
- Vision and hearing, tested against the standard the role requires
- Cardiovascular and respiratory assessment, blood pressure and BMI
- Neurological screening, with particular attention to blackouts, seizures, dizziness and sleep disorders
- Diabetes and other conditions carrying a risk of sudden incapacity
- Mental health, alcohol and substance use, with drug and alcohol screening where your policy requires it
- Musculoskeletal capability measured against the physical demands of the role
The outcome you receive
Every assessment produces a clear management outcome: fit, fit with adjustments or restrictions, temporarily unfit with a review date, or not fit for the safety critical elements of the role. Where we recommend adjustments we say what they are, why, and for how long. Reports go to the referring manager without the clinical detail the employee is entitled to keep confidential.
Why consultant-led matters here
Safety critical decisions are the ones most likely to be challenged, whether by the employee, by a union, or after an incident. R-Health assessments are carried out and signed by occupational physicians rather than delegated to a screening service, and the reasoning is documented well enough to stand up to scrutiny.
Related services
- Driver and DVLA medicals for Group 2 licence holders
- Health surveillance where exposure monitoring runs alongside fitness assessment
- Occupational health assessments for roles that are not safety critical