Specialist Medicals

Diving medicals 

At intervals not exceeding 12 months, all divers covered by the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 must see an HSE medical examiner of divers so that their fitness to dive at work over the following 12 months can be assessed.

Any condition or injury occurring during a diver's career may influence fitness for work. Under certain specific circumstances such as any cardiac, pulmonary, neurological disorder including neurological decompression illness or any condition requiring the diver to be off work for more than 14 days, a diver must present themselves to a medical examiner for re-examination for an assessment of their fitness to return to work.

Diving Medicals:

• HSE dive medicals for commercial and PADI divers from DM to Instructor
• Fit to dive medicals if a YES box has been ticked on a pre-diving medical form
• Fit to dive medicals if a YES box has been ticked on a self-certification BSAC medical form
• Fit to dive medical for Malta/Gozo/Spain
• Fit to return to diving after treatment for DCI
• Fitness to dive, if there is a medical problem e.g. asthma
• Any problem from equalizing to "before I pay for a course am I fit enough?"

Open Water Medical

This is the most basic dive medical available and is for anyone doing, or planning on doing their Open Water or Advanced Open Water dive course. e.g. First time divers

Malta/Spanish/Gozo

For anyone planning on diving in the above three countries, regardless of experience or medical condition
Both of the above medicals include:

• Full physical examination
• Lung function tests
• BMI
• Urinalysis
• Blood pressure

Fit to Dive

For those taking up diving who have a medical problem that needs fuller examination. e.g. Asthma, history of Epilepsy or Lung Disease

Divemaster

For the Divemaster working outside the UK or for those not diving commercially.

As above but with ECG and full lung function testing

HSE Preliminary

For the Divemaster or Instructor qualification, Saturation Divers, Underwater Cameramen. It is the standard medical for anyone wishing to become a commercial diver. Valid for 12 months

Includes the following:

• Full physical examination
• Spirometry
• Audiogram
• ECG and Post Exercise ECG
• Blood and Urine Tests

When you attend for your first HSE medical, you need to bring a form countersigned by your GP proving you have no serious illnesses. Please download the form and print it off: Medical Questionnaire.

Lorry and Bus Driver medicals

Bus and Lorry drivers must have medicals throughout their careers:

1. First application of your provisional Category C1 (7.5t), C (rigid) or D1 (minibus), D (bus) licence
2. When you turn 45 you will need to do another medical followed by one every 5 years after that
3. When you turn 65 you will need to do a medical every year

Taxi Driver medicals

The rules for taxi drivers are slightly different to those of bus and lorry drivers. The recommendation from government is that a taxi driver must meet the same standards as those of bus and lorry drivers. The local authority (council) determines what the medical consists of and who can do it.

Fork Lift Truck Driver medicals

Forklift trucks feature prominently in workplace accidents. Every year there are around 8,000 lift truck accidents resulting in injury.

All existing and potential lift truck operators should be screened for fitness before employment and at least at five-yearly intervals. A lift truck driver who continues after age 65 should have annual assessments for fitness.

Handicapped or disabled employees should not be ruled out, each case should be taken on its own merits.

Important medical pointers:-

• Full movement of the trunk, neck and limbs and normal agility.
• A stable disposition.
• General effective use of both eyes (including corrected).
• Good hearing (including enhanced or corrected).
• No epilepsy when the individual is eligible for an ordinary driving licence.

Night Workers asssessment medicals

Under the Working Time Regulations 1999, a night worker is defined as someone who normally works at least three hours at night on a regular basis. Night- time is defined as the period between 11pm and 6am. All night workers are entitled to a Health Assessment before they start their employment and at regular intervals thereafter.

The Health Assessment would take the form of a specifically structured questionnaire taking into account the work environment and individual job description. This questionnaire is completed by the employee and is included in the comprehensive medical assessment,