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May 11, 2024 • 9 min read
Avoid Costly Mishires With Pre-employment Screening
Discover why pre-employment testing is an expense that will transform into a long-term investment for your business.
Your company might be throwing away millions of dollars for no good reason. It’s a sobering thought, but it’s time to face the reality: the failure to detect pre-existing injuries can lead to significant costs, both in terms of workers’ health and financial liabilities for your business. Let’s explore why investing in thorough pre-employment medicals is crucial for your bottom line and your employees’ well-being.
Understanding Pre-employment Screening
Pre-employment screening is a tool commonly used during the recruitment process to ensure the candidate is qualified and suitable for the role they’re being hired for.
While often this can look like IQ tests or personality tests, in this article we’re most interested in health assessments that examine a candidate’s physical fitness.
Pre-employment health assessments involve thorough evaluations conducted by medical professionals. They can range from physical exams to specialised tests such as hearing and lung function assessments, along with drug and alcohol screening.
The test a worker undergoes is determined by the employer, with particular consideration paid to the nature of their job tasks.
Purpose of Pre-employment Screening
These assessments serve several purposes for employers.
- Ensuring Job Suitability: They help determine if a candidate is medically fit for the specific demands of the role.
- Identifying Health Risks: Assessments reveal any health conditions that could pose risks to the candidate’s safety or that of others in the workplace.
- Establishing Baseline Health: By obtaining a candidate’s health status before employment begins, employers gain insight into any pre-existing conditions.
- Compliance with Regulations: In some industries, these assessments are required by law to meet safety standards.
Long-term Cost Savings
Avoiding workplace injuries helps businesses save money not just in the short term, but also in the long run.
When employees get hurt, companies have to pay for replacement workers, which is a cost that adds up over time. But if they focus on preventing injuries, they can reduce these replacement costs and also save money on insurance premiums:
- Businesses invest in pre-employment screening
- Only the most skilled, qualified and suitable employees are hired
- Fewer workplace injuries occur
- Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) is cut in the short term
- LTIFR is cut in the long run
- Workers compensation insurer lowers premiums
- Workers compensation insurance costs decrease by as much as 65%
Actively working to reduce the frequency of work-related injuries helps businesses cut costs and builds a more resilient team. It’s a win for everyone!
Other Benefits of Pre-employment Health Assessments
Employers also reap other benefits from conducting these assessments, such as:
- Enhanced Workplace Safety: Identifying potential health risks early ensures companies are hiring candidates who do not pose an injury risk, both to themselves and to the people around them.
- Reduced Absenteeism: Early detection of health issues minimises absenteeism due to work-related injuries or illnesses.
- Reduced Turnover: Hiring the right candidate for the right role ensures manpower stability and reduces the need to replace underperforming employees (which also incurs higher costs).
Types of Pre-employment Screening Services
“By identifying potential health risks, ensuring job suitability, and adhering to industry standards, employers who use pre-employment screening help foster a secure and productive work environment.”
Here at AusRehab, we offer comprehensive pre-employment screening services to ensure the safety and well-being of your workforce. Our services include:
Physical Examination:
- Conducted by accredited health professionals
- Includes range of motion testing and lifting capacity testing
Audiometry Test:
- Assessment of hearing ability
Spirometry Test:
- Assessment of lung capacity and function
Visual Acuity Test:
- Assessment of vision and colour blindness
Skin Check:
- Assessment for signs of abnormality on skin
Instant Drug & Alcohol Screen:
- Urine drug screen and breathalyser alcohol screen
Laboratory Drug & Alcohol Screen:
- Urine drug and alcohol screen tested at laboratory AS/NZS 4308:2008 and NATA accredited standards
Silicosis Test:
- Medical evaluation to determine if an individual has developed silicosis or related lung conditions due to exposure to silica dust
For a flat travel fee, we can also travel to your location to perform on-site pre-employment screening.
Got more questions? Drop all your queries with our friendly customer team and we’ll be more than happy take it from there.
*The details in this article were correct and current when it was written. However, changes in business practices, policies, and other pertinent areas may have occurred since then. Readers should confirm the current validity of the content on their own.
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