Owner Driver – August 2019

ownerdriver.com.au AUGUST 2019 37

NatRoad Warren Clark

A

RECENTMEMBERinquirywas:doI
havetherighttorequiremyemployee
toundergoa medicalexamination?
IncreasinglyNatRoadisassisting
memberswithinquiriesaboutissues
associatedwithfitnessforwork.One
infourtransportworkersisover
55,withtheproportionofdriversinthisage
groupgrowing.So,increasinglyemployersare
askingabouttheirrightstodirectemployeesto
undergoa medicalexamination.
Theansweristhatemployershavea
contractualrighttorequireworkerstoundergo
a companymedicalexaminationincases
wheretheremightbea risktotheworkeror
otherworkers,orthereisa clearandlegitimate
operationalreasonfordoingso;forexample,
concernsthattheworkerisunabletosafely
performhisorherduties,orwheretheworker’s
behaviourwaserraticorunusual.Thecurrent
inquirywassparkedbythedifficultya worker
washavingingettinginandoutofthecab.

Employeesarerequiredtofollow

reasonableandlawfuldirectionsfrom

theiremployer.Plus,thereisa generalduty

toprovidea safeworkplaceunderwork

healthandsafetylegislation.Combined,

thismeansemployershavea rightunder

anemploymentcontracttodirecta worker

toundergoa medicalexaminationwitha

doctorchosenbytheemployer.

FITFORWORK

Wearealsofrequentlyasked:whopaysthe

costsofthemedicalexamination?

Iftheemployeemusthavea medical

clearancetoobtainorkeepa licence,then

theemployeeshouldpayforthecostofthe

medicalexamination.Thatisunlessthe

employeeisa weeklyemployeeundertheRoad

TransportandDistributionAward 2010 , who

musthavea dangerousgoodslicencewhere

medicalcostsmustbereimbursedbythe

employer:Clause16.2(d)(iii).

Compulsory medicals

WARRENCLARK,NatRoad’s

chiefexecutiveofficer,

hasmorethan 20 years’

experienceleadingand

developingbusinessfor

emergingcompanies.

Warrenhas heldthe

positionofCEOat

variouscompaniesand

is a certifiedchartered

accountant.

On the other hand, if an employer wants

to be satisfied that a driver is fit for work and

requires a medical assessment to be obtained,

the employer must reimburse the employee

for the costs under the Road Transport and

Distribution Award 2010.

There is not a similar provision in the Road

Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award

2010. However, NatRoad advises members that

where they require an employee to undertake

a medical assessment, the employer must meet

that cost.

NatRoad also advises that medical

assessmentsshouldbeconductedsothatthe

medicalpractitionerindicatesheorshehas

assessedtheworkeragainstthe 2016 medical

standardsguidelinestitledAssessingFitnessto

DriveforCommercialandPrivateVehicleDrivers.

Unlessanemployeeprovidesconsent,itisnot

consideredreasonableatlawforanemployer

tocontacttheemployee’sdoctorforfurther

informationsohavinganobjective,agreed

standardforassessmentisvital.

Theseissuesarebecomingevenmore

sharplyinfocusastheyarefront,andcentre

ofa recentNationalTransportCommission

issuespaperentitledSafePeopleandPractices.

TheCommissionpointsoutthathealthand

fitnessarenota focusundertheHeavyVehicle

NationalLaw,andthatroadtransportisthe

onlytransportmodethatdoesn’thavea fitness

fordutystandard.Responsestothepaperare

opentoAugust30,2019.

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(^00) -30
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(03) 8360 3166
“Who pays the costs of the
medical examination?”
Employers and their rights in requesting check-ups