Safer Together Fitness to Work

Jobfit can conduct Safer Together Fitness to Work medical examinations for workers in the onshore Australian gas exploration and production industry.

The Safer Together medical program is a comprehensive healthcare initiative tailored specifically to the unique needs and challenges of the oil and gas industry. Recognising the inherent risks and demanding work environments associated with this industry, the Safer Together medical program prioritises the health and well-being of workers through specialised medical services and resources.

The Safer Together guidelines have been designed to ensure a consistent, efficient and cost-effective approach to FTW assessments across the entire industry. This removes the need for new health assessments when employees move between companies and allows for greater consistency for all stakeholder’s.

Jobfit is proud to provide FTW pre-employment and health surveillance medicals to members of Safer Together who operate in Australia’s remote workplaces.

HOW IT WORKS

Only AHPRA registered medical practitioners can perform Safer Together FTW medicals. JOBFIT has a register of practitioners nationally who can perform these and issue a Safer Together ‘Fit Slip’ to quickly mobilise workers to remote environments.

Our practitioners have knowledge of remote working environments and the onshore Australian oil and gas exploration and production industry.

A Safer Together medical includes all elements required for a FTW medical as stated in the guidelines, such as:

• Medical history questionnaire
• Medical examination
• Vision
• Audiometry*
• Spirometry
• Urinalysis
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• ECG
• MBA20 blood test (non-fasting)
• Hba1c blood test
• Review and sign-off by an Occupational Physician

*Audiometry assessments are conducted according to the Workcover WA Standard for workers in Western Australia.

Depending on your employer and job requirements, you may also require additional assessments such as drug and alcohol screening.

All assessment candidates will be issued with a Safer Together ‘Fit Slip’ summarising the result of the medical assessment by stating they are either:

• Fit
• Fit, Subject to Review
• Fit with Restrictions or Modifications
• Temporarily unfit
• Permanently unfit

Find more information at The Safer Together website.  

• Who needs a safer together FTW assessment?

  A Safer Together FTW medical is required by all workers of participating Safer Together member companies and affiliated sites in the onshore Australian oil and gas industry whose role requires them to perform any of the following safety-sensitive tasks:

  • Undertake remote or isolated location work
  • Wear tight seal respiratory protection
  • Drive vehicles or operate mobile plant machinery or cranes
  • Provide emergency response or rescue team work
  • Other high-risk activities as indicated by their employer
• Are the requirement for sign-off of a FTW medical different between states?

  Yes, for certain states.

  The Safer Together guidelines and requirements for a Fit Slip may differ according to where you work.

  Click on the links below to find out what is required in your state:

  • Queensland
  • Western Australia and Northern Territory

  You can find guidance for all employees, regardless of state, here.

• How often does a safer together FTW medical need to be undertaken?

  As it’s aimed at preventing serious injuries and health events (eg heart attack) and is used to identify and manage health issues, the Safer Together guidelines state that the FTW medical needs to be undertaken at least every three years.

  Where a candidate has a stable but chronic health condition, more frequent assessments might be needed (eg annually).

• What happens if i am deemed unfit and believe this is incorrect?

  If you do not meet the medical guidelines to obtain a certificate, your examining doctor should explain the reason behind this. If you believe your medical assessment is not representative of your current state of health, a review process may be implemented. This review process includes three other examining doctors reviewing your documentation.