Periodic medical examinations are mandatory medical checks that an employer is obliged to provide to their employees in accordance with labour law regulations. Their primary purpose is to protect the health and lives of employees and prevent occupational diseases.

Periodic medical examinations

In Poland, periodic medical examinations are regulated by the Minister of Health's regulation of 30 April 2021 on preventive medical examinations for employees.

The employer is obliged to ensure that employees undergo periodic medical examinations at the employer's expense. These examinations are carried out by an occupational health physician whose task is to assess the employee's state of health and identify any potential health risks associated with their work.

The frequency of periodic medical examinations depends on the type of work performed by the employee and the risk of occupational diseases associated with that work. For example, employees performing work at height or those exposed to noise should undergo periodic examinations more frequently than employees performing office work.

The employer is obliged to provide employees with appropriate training in health and safety at work and to inform them about the results of periodic medical examinations.

What do periodic medical examinations involve?

Periodic medical examinations involve a series of medical tests conducted by an occupational health physician, aimed at assessing the employee's state of health and the early detection of occupational and other work-related diseases.

Periodic medical examinations typically include:

a medical interview concerning the employee's health status and medical history,
physical examinations, including blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, waist circumference measurements, and checking the nervous system, respiratory system, vision, hearing, and musculoskeletal system,
laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests, glucose, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and other health indicators, depending on the type of work performed,
diagnostic tests, such as spirometry (lung function assessment), audiometry (hearing assessment), ECG (heart function assessment), and other tests that may be recommended depending on the type of work performed.

The results of periodic medical examinations are analysed by the occupational health physician, who determines whether the employee is fit to perform their job or requires a change of position or other health protection measures. The employer should provide the employee with information on the examination results and the occupational health physician's recommendations.

How often are periodic medical examinations performed?

The frequency of periodic medical examinations depends on the type of work performed by the employee and the risk of occupational diseases associated with that work. Generally, periodic medical examinations are conducted at least once a year or less frequently, depending on the requirements specified in labour law regulations or the occupational health physician's recommendations.

Based on the Minister of Health's regulation of 30 April 2021 on preventive medical examinations for employees, the frequency of periodic medical examinations depends on the type of work performed by the employee, and in particular on the risk of occupational diseases associated with that work. For example:

employees exposed to noise, dust, smoke, or other health-hazardous factors should undergo examinations at least once a year;
employees performing work at height should undergo examinations at least once every three years;
employees working with chemical substances should undergo examinations at least once every two years;
employees working in conditions of elevated temperature or humidity should undergo examinations at least once every two years.

However, it should be remembered that an employer may decide to conduct periodic examinations more frequently if they deem it necessary for the protection of employees' health and lives.

Are employees entitled to a day off for periodic medical examinations?

Yes, employees are entitled to a day off from work for the duration of a periodic medical examination conducted by an occupational health physician. According to Article 188 § 2 of the Labour Code, the employer is obliged to grant the employee time off from work to undergo a periodic medical examination and to provide remuneration for this period.

In practice, this means that an employee has the right to leave work for the examination and should not suffer any negative consequences, such as reduced remuneration or disciplinary penalties. The amount of time off depends on the type of examination and the distance between the workplace and the examination location. Typically, a day off for periodic examinations lasts from a few hours to a full working day.

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Periodic medical examinations