Fitness for employment medical surveillance is a process in Cameroon where employees are assessed for their health to ensure they can perform their job safely without risk to themselves or others. This procedure involves pre-employment medical exams to establish a baseline and ongoing periodic evaluations to monitor their health over time, especially when exposed to workplace hazards like chemicals, noise, or dust. The goal of the fitness for employment medical surveillance in Cameroon is to proactively identify potential work-related health issues early, check the effectiveness of safety measures, and take corrective actions when needed.
According to Order No. 039/MTPS/IMT of 26 November 1984 fixing the general measures for hygiene and security in the workplace in Cameroon, no worker shall be admitted to employment without having undergone a medical examination of fitness for employment.
However, the pre-employment medical examination is mandatory in the case of:
a) Work involving a serious risk either because of the nature of the products and agents handled or used, or because of the conditions in which the work is carried out;
b) Women and children under 18 years of age;
c) Physically or mentally handicapped persons.
All workers must undergo periodic examinations by the regulations in force.
Where the worker’s activity involves a severe risk, the worker must, under the employer’s responsibility, undergo medical surveillance for an appropriate period after leaving the job.
Workers are called upon to engage in activities requiring special skills for their execution and likely to endanger their health and life, that of other workers or of any other person shall undergo appropriate periodic medical examinations, with additional examinations, if necessary.
The examinations provided in this chapter shall be carried out at the discretion and expense of the employer. No worker shall be exempt from such studies.
Key components and purposes of a Fitness for Employment Medical Surveillance in Cameroon
- Pre-employment examination: This is a medical assessment exercise which an employee in Cameroon undergoes to ensure they are physically and medically capable of performing the essential duties without being a hazard to themselves or others.
- Periodic medical surveillance: This aspect of the medical surveillance program ensures regular check-ups during employment to monitor for any changes in the employee's health that could be linked to their work environment in Cameroon.
- Hazard identification: Helps to identify if the work environment contains hazards that could cause harm to the employees.
- Risk assessment validation: This process entails the assessment of the effectiveness of the employer's health and safety measures and control measures.
- Early intervention: This allows for the early detection of potential health issues or work-related diseases, enabling timely intervention and prevention.
- Record keeping: Essential for tracking health trends and for legal compliance, with medical records often kept for extended periods after an employee leaves a job.
- Legal requirement: In many cases, medical surveillance is legally mandated for employees exposed to specific occupational hazards.
How it works
Step 1: Employers initiate the process by conducting a risk assessment to identify potential hazards.
Step 2: Employees exposed to these hazards undergo a pre-employment screening to establish a baseline of their health.
Step 3: They then receive periodic medical examinations, which can include a range of tests such as lung function tests (spirometry), hearing tests (audiometry), or skin checks, depending on the hazards they are exposed to.
Step 4: The occupational health professional who performs the assessment provides a confidential opinion to the employer regarding the employee's fitness for their role, and advises the employee on any potential limitations or recommendations.
Step 5: The results are used to make sure control measures are effective, and if not, to implement further risk reduction strategies.