Are Our Annual Health Check-ups Enough? Understanding Mandatory Medical Tests Under the Factories Act

I would like to know about the medical tests that are mandatory as per the Factories Act, as I am working in a manufacturing company. We normally conduct the annual health check-up, but it seems unclear if these tests fulfill our requirements. Therefore, could you please share with me the details of the tests that are compulsory by the government?

Regards

Industry Medical Tests Conducted

Find below the tests that we are conducting in our industry:

1. Detailed History & Complete Physical Examination
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG Computerized)
3. X-Ray Chest (Standard Size)
4. Audiometric Test
5. Blood Group and Rh Factor
6. Blood CBC, ESR, RBS
7. Urine Routine and Microscopic
8. HIV and HBS Tests

Best Regards from LRN

If a young person (between 15 years to 18 years) is to be employed in a factory, he needs to be subjected to a medical examination to be certified by the surgeon as fit for work, either at the instance of the factory manager or at the instance of his parents. If the factory is one which engages itself in hazardous processes, it may have to get its workers medically examined by the Factory Medical Officer once before employment and thereafter at periodic intervals as stipulated in the factory rules of the respective states.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Thank you, Sir, for your reply. As per the Factories Act, every year, workers or plant staff should undergo medical certification to ensure they are fit for work. Therefore, an annual medical check-up is mandatory. Could you please guide me on which tests are compulsory for this check-up?

List of Mandatory Tests for Annual Medical Check-up

- ECG
- CBC ESR (Fully Auto Cell Counter)
- Blood Sugar Fasting / Post Lunch
- S. Cholesterol
- Urine Routine
- Blood Group & Rh
- SGPT, SGOT
- S. Creatinine, Blood Urea
- Lung Function Test
- Vision Test (Screening)
- Complete Physical Examination
- Audiometry

I am eagerly awaiting your response.

Best Regards,
Suchita Bangera
AM - HR

Thank you for the test details. Are these tests mandatory, or can we remove some of them? We are currently covering the following tests for our medical check-up, but we are considering removing some that are not required by statute:

- ECG
- CBC ESR (Fully Auto Cell Counter)
- Blood Sugar Fasting / Post Lunch
- S. Cholesterol
- Urine Routine
- Blood Group & Rh
- SGPT, SGOT
- S. Creatinine, Blood Urea
- Lung Function Test
- Vision Test (Screening)
- Complete Physical Examination
- Audiometry

Looking forward to your reply.

Best Regards,
Suchita Bangera
AM - HR

You are all correct according to the best-known practices. However, it still varies from industry to industry, such as Chemical, Oil, Gas, Food, BPO, etc.

Regards,
Amit Trada
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Surat, Gujarat

Dear Suchita, please visit your factory premises to understand the work process. List out the hazardous chemicals consumed and polluting the environment due to the use of raw materials. Afterward, come to a conclusion on the tests required to be conducted for your employees, including contractor workers. For more information, it is best to directly approach the Factory Inspector in your region.

Regards,
Lingaraju N
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Thank you, Sir, for your reply. As per the Factories Act, every year, workers or plant staff should undergo medical certification to ensure they are fit for work. Therefore, an annual medical check-up is mandatory. Could you please guide me on which tests are compulsory for this check-up?

List of Mandatory Tests

Below, I have listed the tests that should be conducted:

- ECG
- CBC ESR (Fully Auto Cell counter)
- Blood Sugar Fasting / Post Lunch
- S. Cholesterol
- Urine Routine
- Blood group & Rh
- SGPT, SGOT
- S. Creatinine, Blood Urea
- Lung Function Test
- Vision Test (Screening)
- Complete Physical Examination
- Audiometry

I am eagerly awaiting your response.

Best Regards,
Suchita Bangera
AM - HR

Attribution: https://www.citehr.com/390409-medica...#ixzz1vlfhwInk

To my knowledge, the medical examination varies as per the nature of the manufacturing process and the job profile of an employee. For example, if the manufacturing process involves hazardous processes, the medical examination may involve chest X-rays. Similarly, if the employee is a driver, he may have to undergo a vision test. If it is the food industry, the hands of the employees may be periodically examined to check for skin diseases.

The periodicity of medical examination may also vary. For example, if the factory involves a Lead Process, the workers may have to be examined once a month as per Maharashtra Factory Rules. Therefore, an employee may have to undergo all routine tests and also the special tests depending on the job profile and nature of the manufacturing process. The best option is to approach the Inspector of Factories and get the details of the medical examination that is mandatory for your factory.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai

I am working as an HR executive in a manufacturing organization. My organization manufactures engine gaskets, and there are hazards that pose a danger to health. Is a medical check-up compulsory here every year?

Regarding this topic, I recently had all of my employees medically checked, and I was advised by the factory inspector that it should be done by a certified surgeon only. Hope this helps.

Thanks & Regards,
Dharam Kapadia

Yes, every quarterly health check-up is important in a manufacturing company!

For more details, please visit www.wellbeingclinic.com.

You need to check the state rules for the same. Like in Maharashtra:
1) There is a general rule for every worker to get medically examined once a year (Rl 8-A).
2) Workers who are working on hazardous processes should undergo medical examination once every six months.

So, it also depends on the state rules. In some state rules (for example, Karnataka rules specify the medical examination once every six years, even for canteen staff).

You might also like to refer to the state rules in which the manufacturing unit is located.

Regards,
Ashish Baid

Factory Act Guidelines for Compulsory Medical Checkups

The Factory Act mandates compulsory medical checkups yearly, with some hazardous industries requiring them every six months. It also lists industries classified as hazardous. Hazardous industries are those where processes can cause serious illnesses in workers.

Whenever a company plans to conduct a medical examination, a certifying surgeon visits the company's premises to understand the processes and then advises on the appropriate tests for that company. Therefore, the tests will vary depending on the manufacturing processes. Plan a discussion with the certifying surgeon, ask for a list of tests, and proceed further.

Dr. Ravindra Shinde (MBBS, DNB CHES, AFIH, Certifying Surgeon for Nashik District)

Our's is a biotech company with 30 staff registered under the Telangana Factories Act. The company provides group medical insurance to all permanent employees and ESI facility to employees working under contract basis. So, is it still necessary to undertake the medical examination for all of them on regular intervals as per the Factories Act? I would be glad to have the expert's opinion on this. I appreciate your support in advance.

Regards,
Bhishma Baru
HR

Since you have engaged all adult persons in employment, there is no need to have them medically checked. Only in the case of persons who are below the age of 18, certificates of fitness are required.

If any department or process in your organization is classified as a Hazardous Process under the guidelines of the Factory Act and State Factory Rules, then you must check their fitness half-yearly. The main objective of the act is to keep the employer free from any undue burden and ensure the employees remain fit.

It's great that you have taken medical coverage for all employees.

Thanks

Can we pay the medical examination fee through DD for factories engaged in dangerous operations? If it's okay, to whom should the DD be made out to?

Hello experts,

Could someone please let me know if the Annual Medical Checkup in the factory falls under which section of the Factory Act, 1948?

Is the welding and grinding process considered a hazardous process according to the Factories Act 1948?

Dear Suchita Bangera, if you're working in a manufacturing industry, you should follow the guidelines below:

1. Pre-medical examination for every new employee once.
2. Annual medical examination for adolescents if they are engaged.
3. Bi-annual medical examination for canteen workers.
4. Annual medical examination for employees involved in hazardous processes.

All tests should be certified by a certifying surgeon from the Industrial Safety and Health Department. Normal tests such as BP, sugar levels, pulmonary function, SGOT, SGPT, and X-ray for hazardous process workers should be included.

You can consult the certifying surgeon for guidance.

Thanks,
Manikandan
Head-HR & Admin.

Yes, the welding process also comes under hazardous processes as per the Factories Act.

Thanks.

Required Medical Tests and Vaccinations

CBC, sugar testing, kidney function test, liver function test, lipid profile, urine and stool routine, chest X-ray, audiometry, and pulmonary function test. Vaccination for Hepatitis B, tetanus, and typhoid are required. Additionally, a fitness certificate issued by an MBBS doctor is mandatory.

Contact for more information:

Rupam Thakur
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]

Dear All,

Kindly highlight if there is any G.O (Government Order) or where it is mentioned about all the tests mentioned in the comments.

Regards,
Sam