As summer comes to an end and workplaces prepare for the fall season, it’s a great time for employers to check in on their workplace health and safety requirements.
Fall can bring new projects, increased staffing, employee onboarding, and changing workplace conditions. For many Alberta employers, it’s also an ideal time to review whether employees are up to date with the occupational health testing and assessments required for their roles.
At Canadian Occupational Wellness (CanOcc), we help employers make workplace health testing simple, convenient, and accessible. From audiometric testing and respirator fit testing to occupational health assessments and drug and alcohol testing, our team provides a range of services for workplaces across Alberta.
Why Fall Is a Good Time to Review Workplace Health Requirements
Workplace health requirements can easily become overlooked when businesses are busy. Employee certifications and testing dates may be spread throughout the year, while new employees may require assessments before beginning work.
A seasonal review gives employers an opportunity to look at upcoming requirements and identify any outstanding testing before it becomes urgent.
Consider reviewing:
- Employee occupational health assessments
- Audiometric testing requirements
- Respirator fit testing
- Spirometry testing
- Vision screening
- Physical abilities testing
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Hearing protection requirements
- Pre-employment and site-access requirements
- Testing schedules for new and existing employees
Having a plan in place can help reduce last-minute appointments and make the onboarding process easier for both employers and employees.
Occupational Health Assessments
Occupational health assessments can help employers determine whether an employee is medically suited to perform the physical requirements associated with their position, where appropriate.
Depending on the assessment and job requirements, an occupational health assessment may include a health history, vital signs, vision screening, cardiovascular and respiratory assessment, range of motion, musculoskeletal screening, and other relevant clinical components.
These assessments can be particularly useful for physically demanding positions and roles where an employer requires additional information regarding an employee’s ability to safely perform specific job duties.
Audiometric Testing
For workers exposed to occupational noise, audiometric testing is an important component of a workplace hearing conservation program.
Regular hearing testing can help establish a baseline and monitor changes in an employee’s hearing over time. CanOcc provides audiometric testing for individual employees, groups, and mobile workplace events.
For employers with multiple employees requiring testing, onsite or mobile services can be a convenient option that reduces travel and time away from the workplace.
Respirator Fit Testing
If employees are required to wear tight-fitting respirators as part of their work, appropriate fit testing is an important consideration.
CanOcc provides quantitative respirator fit testing for a variety of respirator types, including N95 respirators and half-mask respirators.
Fit testing helps confirm that the selected respirator provides an appropriate seal for the individual wearer. Employees should be fit tested using the respirator model, style, and size they are expected to wear as part of their work.
Spirometry and Respiratory Screening
Some workplaces involve exposure to dust, fumes, chemicals, or other airborne substances. Depending on the workplace and occupational health program, respiratory testing may be appropriate.
Spirometry is a pulmonary function test that measures how much air a person can move into and out of their lungs and how quickly they can do so.
CanOcc offers spirometry testing as part of our occupational health services, helping employers coordinate respiratory-related testing alongside other workplace assessments.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
For employers with drug and alcohol testing programs, fall can also be a useful time to review upcoming pre-employment, random, post-incident, or site-access testing requirements.
CanOcc offers a variety of drug and alcohol testing options, including point-of-collection testing and laboratory-based testing.
Testing requirements can vary depending on the employer, workplace, client requirements, and applicable policies. Employers should ensure their testing program is appropriately established and communicated to employees.
Physical Abilities Testing
Physical abilities testing can help assess whether an individual can safely perform specific physical demands associated with a position.
Depending on the job, testing may include activities related to lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, mobility, and other functional requirements.
A properly designed physical abilities assessment should reflect the actual physical demands of the position rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Don’t Forget About New Employees
Fall is often a busy hiring period for many industries. If your organization is bringing on new employees, it’s worth reviewing which occupational health requirements need to be completed before they begin work.
Creating a consistent onboarding process can help ensure that required testing and assessments are completed efficiently.
Instead of coordinating multiple providers, employers may be able to complete several occupational health services through one provider, depending on their needs.
Make Workplace Health Testing Easier
Keeping track of occupational health requirements doesn’t have to be complicated.
Whether you need testing for one employee or are coordinating assessments for an entire team, CanOcc can help you organize the services your workplace requires.
Our occupational health services include:
- Occupational health assessments
- Physical abilities testing
- Audiometric testing
- Respirator fit testing
- Spirometry
- Vision screening
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Hearing protection fit testing
- Mobile and onsite occupational health services
With locations in Sherwood Park and St. Albert and mobile services available, CanOcc works with employers to provide convenient occupational health testing for employees across Alberta.
Get Your Workplace Ready for Fall with CanOcc
Fall is a great time to get ahead of upcoming occupational health requirements and make sure your team is ready for the season ahead.
Whether you’re onboarding new employees, preparing for a busy project, or catching up on outstanding testing, CanOcc can help you coordinate the occupational health services your workplace needs — all in one place.
From audiometric testing and respirator fit testing to spirometry, drug and alcohol testing, occupational health assessments, and physical abilities testing, our team works with employers to make workplace health testing simple, convenient, and efficient.
With clinics in Sherwood Park and St. Albert, as well as partnered occupational health providers across Canada, we can bring testing to your workplace when it makes sense for your team.
Contact CanOcc today to discuss your upcoming testing needs or request a quote for your team.
