Welcome to OccuMED Articles. The purpose of OccuMED Articles is to provide a library of medical information for OccuMED clients. This information is provided by OccuMED Occupational Physicians and OccuMED's network of medical specialists and allied health professionals.
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Pregnancy and Fitness for Work
Author: Dr John Low (Occupational Physician: OccuMED)
In normal pregnancy, during the first trimester (first 12 weeks following conception), nausea and sometimes vomiting commonly occurs leading to deterioration in work performance. Fatigue is also a common problem not only in the first 12 weeks but also during the latter stages of pregnancy. This may be exacerbated by shift work and long hours at work.
In the second trimester (13 - 26 weeks), many pregnant women experience musculoskeletal problems because of the physical changes in their body including weight gain, increased girth and changes in their postures as a result. Towards the end of the second trimester, more physical difficulties may be experienced such as reduction in affective arm reach, balance becomes less stable and falls are more common due to the body's change of centre of gravity. Dizziness and fainting may also occur particularly in hot environment or with prolonged standing.
In the third trimester (after 29 weeks), the problems of the second trimester continue but fatigue becomes more pronounced and is often worsened by insomnia. There may be a variety of aches and pains, constipation, haemorrhoids, varicose veins, bladder problems which all may affect a women's work capacity.Labels: Fitness for Work
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Hearing Loss and Fitness for Work
Authors: Dr John Low / Dr Roger Lai (Occupational Physician: OccuMED)
People with hearing loss may have difficulty listening to normal conversations, hearing in the presence of background noise, using communication systems, hearing warning signals and localising the direction of a sound source. It may also affect their ability to use hearing protection.
Significant hearing loss can affect fitness for work in jobs that require good communication or where catastrophic consequences may result (ie. serious injury due to failure to hear a warning signal). Exposure to excessive noise may further compromise hearing ability.
In certain occupations where there are specific hearing requirements, governing organisations often develop medical standards. For example, the National Road Transport Commission has hearing guidelines for commercial drivers.
Where there is no such medical standard, a person with significant hearing loss needs to be assessed on their ability to undertake the inherent requirements of the job safely and effectively with or without modifications which do not cause undue hardship on the employer (e.g. installation of visual warning systems). Otherwise, denying the person a job based on hearing loss may be deemed discriminatory.
In these cases the extent of the hearing loss should be assessed clinically and/or audiometrically but the disabling affects of hearing loss should be assessed practically in the work scenario. The disabling effects of hearing loss are dependent on multiple factors including type of hearing loss, the distance from the sound source, background noise, job experience etc. Job experience and skill may outweigh any potential disadvantage suggested by pure tone audiometry done in a controlled environment which may be unrelated to the real work settingLabels: Fitness for Work
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