Mining is a massive industry here in Canada. This test is designed for mine workers. They must undergo a hearing and lung function test.

What to expect is listed below:

1st – Written Questionnaire

This questionnaire will include broad questions such as:

• Are you taking any regular prescription medication?
• Do you smoke?
• Have you ever had a drug or alcohol addiction?
• Does your family have a history of Diabetes or Asthma?
• A consent to share or retrieve medical information from the Employee’s Family Physician to ensure all medical information provided is accurate and true.

2nd – Physical Exam

The physical exam is designed to assess the potential hires abilities to perform the daily duties of the role one is being hired for. The exam can vary or be tailored to the specific needs of the job.

Standard Physical Assessments

• MWHS test
• Hearing test
• Lung function test
• Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index
• Urine Analysis
• Physical Fitness Test
• Eye Vision Test
• Joint Range of Motion
• Musculoskeletal Assessment (Strength test)
• Spinal Assessment

Optional Physical Assessments

• Drug Screening (urine test)
• X-ray of the spine
• X-ray of the chest
• MRI – MRI”s are often used to assess old injuries or to establish your pre-employment health status.
• ECG
• Psychological screening (Screening tools such as; GAD-7, ADHD, PHQ-9, Mood Disorder)

Northwood offers Pre-employment Physicals to determine whether an applicant is suitable or has the physical strength and ability to perform a certain task and the stamina that is required to do the job that may be physically demanding or even potentially dangerous.

It will include the following:

• Vision screening
• Spirometry
• Blood pressure and vital signs
• Urinalysis screening including drug and alcohol screening, if requested
• Pre-existing orthopedic and medical condition screening
• Mask Fitting

Post-offer testing is much more in-depth than the traditional pre-employment testing. The results of the post-offer examination and urine drug-screen, will provide our health-care team with the confidence to provide a medical opinion of whom is qualified or not qualified for each prospective employee. POET decreases turnover, increases safety within the workplace, decreases accidents/incidents. POET can be used instead FCE (functional capacity evaluation) to see if one is ready and able to return-to-work.

The same tests will be performed as the Pre-employment Physical along with these additional tests:

• PMHx (Past medical history)
• PCP (Physical Capacity Profile) – this test measures body fat and weight, ROM (range of motion), limb strength, lift strength and more. PCP test determines individuals’ quantitative physical limits.

We would only perform this type of drug testing if or when an incident cannot be explained any other way or suspicion. In order for the results to be related to the unexplained incident, we would need to perform the drug and alcohol testing as promptly as possible to ensure accuracy. These results can play a very important and valuable role when investigating the cause of an incident in the workplace.

Post-accident testing should only be performed when a Supervisor or Manager suspect the Employee may have been under the influence at the time of the incident and feel that it is necessary to have the Employee perform a urine drug and alcohol screening immediately. If this is the case, the Employee must be escorted to the collection facility. Upon arrival, a Northwood Staff (Nurse &/Urine Drug Screener), will arrange for the urine deposit to be supervised to ensure that the urine sample is not tampered with. We will then collect the sample and perform testing. If the test results read as positive results, we will then proceed to send the urine sample and results to the laboratory for additional, more effective testing to ensure accuracy.

All employees must understand the importance of what it means to work in a safe and drug-free work environment along with the possible consequences related to substance abuse. Having a Drug & Alcohol Policy in place sets the tone for your company’s standards, requirements and employee expectations. Be sure to have all employees sign an acknowledgment agreement stating they have read and comprehend these policies.

Pulmonary Function testing assesses the Employee’s entire respiratory system. The tests will include:

• Spirometry
• Blood pressure reading
• Respirator fit testing, qualitative and quantitative

A spirometry test is a simple, fast and common lung function test. This test measures how much air one can inhale and exhale as well as, how fast one can empty their lungs. The test will read whether or not one is capable of breathing normally. This test will be conducted 3 times to be confident that the results are most accurate.

Spirometry tests are also used to diagnose breathing problems i.e.; COPD and asthma.

Our team at Northwood Medical will customize our Return to Duty physical exams to meet the requirements of your organization/company. These tests help to ensure that it’s safe for the employee to return to work after an injury a urine drug and alcohol screening test can also be done if requested by the employer.

Testing will include the following:

• PMHx (Past Medical History)
• PCP (Physical Capacity Profile) – this test measures body fat and weight, ROM (range of motion), limb strength, lift strength and more. PCP test determines individuals’ quantitative physical limits.
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• Audiometric Evaluation to ensure that the Employee is capable of hearing well enough to work safely
• Fit for Duty Report

Periodic Medical Health Evaluations are a great way to help keep a medical record of the employee’s personal health history. Northwood would perform a health screening examination on a scheduled or routine basis.

Our Periodical Medical will include:

• Physical Examination
• Audiometric Test (NIHL – Noise Induced Hearing Loss) and prevention
• Spirometry (lung function test)
• Vision Test
• Chest x-ray (PA & Lateral)
• ECG
• Lab tests: CBC & Urinalysis
• Liver & kidney function tests
• Fasting lipids and glucose
• Testing for drug and /or alcohol for safety-sensitive positions

We customize a program that is made for you and your goals through a series of tests that will assess your current health risks. Your health and goals are ours.

• Increase productivity
• Increase morale
• Improve efficiency
• Improve decision-making time
• Reduce health care costs
• Reduce Employee turnover
• Nutritional screen
• Cancer screen
• Audio & Vision testing
• Cardiovascular screen
• Bone & Body Composition health (DEXA Scan)
• Metabolic screen
• Chest X-ray (if indicated)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Laboratory results
• Follow ups & reports

Like in mining, new employees will undergo all of the following standard physical assessments along with possibly some optional assessments specific to the job.

All CMV’s (commercial motor vehicles) must receive regular physical examinations under the Department of Transportation the federal law requires these drivers to have DOT physicals completed. These physicals are highly regulated and designed to detect physical, mental, and emotional issues that can affect a driver’s ability to safely drive a commercial vehicle. Northwood’s DOT medical examiners are specially trained to understand the regulations and prevent drivers from being inappropriately disqualified.

DOT physicals are a necessity. Employers cannot have drivers out on the road without a valid DOT card. It’s illegal to conduct business unless your CMV driver is cleared for the road. DOT physicals are a must-have if you’re a commercial driver or employ commercial drivers. These physicals ensure that your drivers are safe on the road, and compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

Our Addiction practice focused licensed Physicians from Northwood Recovery and in some cases, Occupational Therapists will work carefully with clients struggling with substance abuse issues to carefully identify the negative effects of the client’s substance abuse patterns in their daily lives i.e. occupational performance, dependability. Our team will help the client establish more satisfying and meaningful patterns of time use and create opportunities for self-discovery by taking part in hobby development, replace unhealthy activities with healthy and meaningful activities, and carefully help the client to plan and initiate short and long term goals for themselves.

Northwood Recovery also offers the following: (But not limited to.)

• Medication Assisted Treatment Programs
• Urine drug screening (Drug & Alcohol Testing)
• Toxicology Reports
• Counseling
• Withdrawal management
• Detox options
• Treatment center preparation and referrals
• Harm reduction supplies
• Naloxone kits and training

Our team of professionals will emphasize on return to modified duty if necessary and provide. Physician may feel the need to provide aggressive treatment of serious conditions and if needed refer to a specialist. Our Professionals may also be able to identify and manage any malingering.

JDA (Job Demand Analysis) also known as PDA (Physical Demand Analysis)

Every occupation faces physical and ergonomic challenges including; repetitive movement, uncomfortable postures, forceful exertions and much more. Our experts will analyze your work place and workstations, equipment, environmental factors and more. We will then provide your company/organization with a full assessment report with specifics of what should be changed or fixed and our suggestions of how we can make changes to prevent any further injuries.

Our team of professionals can provide your staff with Ergonomic training and education seminars. Your staff will learn how to properly set-up their workstation and how to properly conduct an ergonomic assessment.

Examples of Risk Factors:

• Performing repetitive and or same tasks frequently or for a long period of time
• Exerting excessive force
• Working in awkward postures or being in the same position for long periods of time
• Constant vibration from machinery

The results will include: Saving your company money, less injuries onsite, lower insurance premiums, increased productivity, and more.

If the company’s employees are having to travel abroad for work purposes, Northwood recommends that each employee has a pre-travel consultation with one of our Physicians’ specializing in travel health to discuss vaccines, preventative medications (anti-malarial), educate, council and more.

We will send the injured employee to our Physiotherapist for an assessment to ensure rehab is performed and in the most cost-efficient manner.