Fitness for work

Abstract

Pre-employment health examinations for new employees fulfil three main purposes: 1) To determine whether employees are fit for work or not; 2) To know whether employees have any underlying diseases which may be aggravated by work; and 3) To obtain basic health information which employers can use for adjusting working conditions or methods of practice suitable for each employee. This article briefly addresses two specific issues: 1) Should workers be tested for Anti-HIV? and 2) Should people with HIV/AIDS work? With regard to pregnant workers, they are fit to work on the condition that they have no underlying diseases, and are not involved in heavy jobs, distance traveling, work involving the risk of exposure to toxic and radioactive substances. Employers should provide periodic health examinations for employers at least once a year.

Key words : fitness for work, HIV/AIDS, pregnant worker