The primary difference between a pre-employment medical and a pre-employment functional assessment lies in their purpose and outcome, though both are used to evaluate a candidate's suitability for a specific job.
Pre-Employment Medical:
Purpose: A pre-employment medical is designed to assess a candidate’s general health and to ensure they do not have any medical conditions that could be aggravated by the work or pose a risk to themselves or others in the workplace.
Components: It typically includes a comprehensive health assessment that may involve checking vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate), a review of medical history, vision and hearing tests, drug and alcohol screening, and sometimes additional tests specific to the job (e.g., lung function tests for roles involving respiratory risks).
Outcome: The result is usually a report on whether the candidate is medically fit to perform the duties of the job or if any necessary restrictions or accommodations would be required.
Pre-Employment Functional Assessment:
Purpose: A pre-employment functional assessment focuses on evaluating the candidate’s physical capability to perform specific job-related tasks. It’s particularly relevant for roles that are physically demanding.
Components: This assessment typically involves testing the candidate's strength, flexibility, endurance, and other physical abilities directly related to the job. For example, if the job requires lifting heavy objects, the assessment may include lifting tasks to ensure the candidate can perform them safely.
Outcome: The outcome is a report detailing whether the candidate can meet the physical demands of the job without risk of injury to themselves or others, and any necessary restrictions or accommodations that would need to be made.