Occupational Health Services

What are Occupational Health Services?

Occupational Health Services are a specialised area of medical care focused on keeping workers safe, healthy, and capable of performing their roles effectively. These services examine how workplace conditions may affect an employee’s health and, conversely, how a person’s health may impact their ability to work safely.

Employers, insurers, and government authorities often require medical assessments to meet workplace safety regulations, licensing conditions, or insurance obligations. By detecting health issues early and monitoring existing conditions, these assessments reduce risks, support recovery, and improve overall workplace well-being.

At our practice, general practitioners with a special interest in occupational medicine provide a wide range of assessments and coordinated care. Our approach supports employees, employers, and insurers by offering accurate medical reviews, tailored recovery plans, and appropriate referrals when needed.

Why Occupational Health is Important

Workplace health is not just about preventing accidents — it is about creating an environment where people can perform at their best. When employees are healthy and supported, businesses benefit too.

Key benefits of occupational health include:

• Preventing and managing workplace injuries: Early intervention helps avoid long-term disability.
• Supporting compliance: Ensures businesses meet legal and regulatory standards.
• Boosting productivity: Healthy workers are more focused, motivated, and engaged.
• Reducing costs: Fewer claims, less absenteeism, and lower turnover reduce financial strain.
• Promoting wellbeing: A visible commitment to employee health builds trust and loyalty.

Occupational health services are an investment in both employee welfare and business performance.

Workers' Compensation and Injury Management

Injuries and illnesses can happen in any workplace. When they do, expert medical guidance ensures a safe recovery and a structured return to work.

Our services include:

• Injury management: Tailored treatment plans to support recovery after workplace accidents or illnesses. We liaise directly with treating doctors, insurers, and employers to keep care coordinated.
• Fitness for duty assessments: Independent evaluations that confirm whether an employee can safely perform their role. These may be requested after an injury, surgery, or illness.
• Return-to-work evaluations: Step-by-step plans that balance the employee’s current health status with workplace demands, helping prevent relapse or re-injury.
• Collaboration with rehabilitation and occupational health services: We work closely with rehabilitation providers and workplace health specialists to ensure recovery plans are practical, coordinated, and focused on long-term outcomes.

By focusing on early intervention and clear communication, our injury management services reduce downtime and support both employees and employers during the recovery process.

Licence and Assessment Medicals

Many industries require drivers to undergo regular medical assessments to ensure they are safe to operate vehicles. Our practice offers a range of comprehensive driver medicals in line with Austroads and other legal standards.

Services include:

• Commercial driver’s licence medicals: For truck, bus, and heavy vehicle drivers. These assessments cover vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, respiratory function, and other related health aspects.
• Australian fitness-to-drive assessments: Independent evaluations required for both commercial and private licences to confirm safe driving ability.
• Taxi and ride-share drivers’ medicals: Specific medical checks for passenger service providers, ensuring public and personal safety.

These assessments protect the community by making sure only medically fit drivers are on the road. They also provide drivers with valuable health insights, helping them manage conditions that may affect their ability to work.

Pre-Employment Medicals

Before starting a new job, many employers require candidates to complete a health assessment. These assessments confirm that an individual is medically capable of meeting the physical and mental demands of the role.

What’s included in pre-employment medicals:

• Review of medical history
• Physical examination
• Hearing and vision tests
• Lung function tests (spirometry)
• Pathology (blood and urine testing)
• Drug and alcohol screening

Depending on the job, additional tests such as ECGs or musculoskeletal assessments may be required. The results help employers match people to safe and suitable roles while identifying any accommodations that may be needed.

Hearing and Respiratory Assessments

Audiology Screening

Hearing checks are especially important for people exposed to noisy environments such as construction, mining, and manufacturing. Early identification of hearing loss allows for prompt intervention, preventing long-term impairment.

Benefits:

• Detects hearing loss early
• Identifies conditions caused by workplace noise exposure
• Provides recommendations for protective equipment and workplace changes

Spirometry Testing

Respiratory testing is essential in roles where lung health is critical. Using a simple breathing device, spirometry measures lung capacity and airflow. This is particularly relevant for workers exposed to dust, chemicals, or smoke.

Benefits:

• Identifies asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions
• Assesses ability to perform in physically demanding or hazardous environments
• Tracks respiratory health over time

General Health and Insurance Medicals

Occupational health extends beyond workplace-specific risks. Many insurers require independent medicals before approving life, disability, or income protection policies.

Insurance medicals may include:

• Full medical history review
• Physical examination (heart, lungs, abdomen, blood pressure)
• Laboratory tests, such as blood and urine analysis
• ECG or imaging, depending on age and medical history
• Lifestyle risk factor assessment (smoking, alcohol, exercise)

These assessments help insurers evaluate risk and also provide individuals with a valuable overview of their current health status.

Drug and Alcohol Screening

Maintaining a safe workplace often requires pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing. These tests ensure that employees can perform their duties safely and help employers meet compliance requirements.

Why Choose Our Practice for Occupational Health?

We combine medical expertise with a practical understanding of workplace requirements. Our assessments are thorough, confidential, and tailored to meet the needs of both individuals and employers.

What sets us apart:

• Experienced doctors with occupational health training
• Clear, independent reporting for employers and insurers
• Focus on recovery and safe return to work
• Compliance with Australian health and safety standards
• A supportive, patient-centred approach for employees

Whether you are an employer requiring workplace medical assessments, a driver needing a licence medical, or an employee recovering from an injury, our practice provides reliable and professional occupational healthcare.