Most employers are aware of the need to check vehicles regularly for defects and to have them serviced often, but very few are checking that the person driving the vehicle remains healthy. Employers however have a duty to ensure that staff are fit for work, and this includes those whose work involves driving.

Why screen your drivers?

Police road accident data shows that every year over 500 people are killed (almost one third of all road deaths), 5,000 seriously injured and almost 40,000 slightly injured in collisions involving drivers or riders who are driving for work.

If your business expects employees to drive as part of their work, whether that be in a company car, a heavy goods vehicle or anything in between, then you are responsible for ensuring that those drivers are fit for their roles, and the best way to validate a drivers health is by conducting a full medical examination.

Our driver screening assessment is based on the tried and tested DVLA D4 medical required by HGV drivers and uses the Group 2 guidelines to determine whether a driver meets the professional standard for driving.

By evidencing that your driving staff have been required to undergo a regular health check, your business demonstrates compliance with health and safety regulations and is better equipped to defend itself if the worst happens and your driver is involved in a collision.

HGV/PSV Drivers

Whilst there is already a medical requirement for drivers of HGV and PSV vehicles, amazingly professional HGV/PSV drivers who get their license at 18 are not required to have another medical until they reach the age of 45…that’s a staggering 27 years without a medical to check that they are fit and healthy behind the wheel.

And even once into their 50s and 60s HGV/PSV drivers are still only required to have a medical every five years – which is when health is likely to change more rapidly and the risk of illness is increased.

Our screening assessment is able to fill the gaps in the current DVLA medical system and improve road safety by validating that a driver continues to meet the professional standard.

Company Car & Van Drivers

In terms of car or van drivers, there are no medical requirements at all, despite many employees being required to travel many thousands of miles in company vehicles as part of their job. In the absence of a legal requirement for health checks, it is vitally important that businesses employing drivers, or providing company vehicles, ensure that they have assessed the employee’s health and that they continue to validate them regularly.

Drivers themselves are also responsible for ensuring that they do not drive when they are not fit to do so, and that they
report any condition that affects their ability to drive safely to their employer, and if necessary to the DVLA. However experience tells us that drivers often underestimate or misunderstand the impact of changes to their health or medications and this can have serious consequences. An assessment by a medical professional

Our screening assessment provides peace of mind to both the employer and the employee that there is no additional risk posed by them driving.

Comprehensive Driver Health Check

Our driver screening medical can be conducted by one of our experienced Doctors at one of 85 locations across the UK and is suitable for:

• HGV drivers
• Bus drivers
• Taxi drivers
• Company car drivers
• Van drivers
• Heavy machine/Plant operators

A screening will confirm whether or not the driver continues to meet the DVLA Group 2 standard, and can be conducted every 1, 2 or 3 years.

Our comprehensive screening assessment includes:

• Blood pressure
• Eyesight
• Diabetes (Urine test)
• Height/Weight
• Detailed medical history questionnaire
• Review of medications
• Mental health

*Drug & alcohol tests can also be conducted for a small additional fee

Driver screening ensures that drivers continue to meet the standards required of professional drivers. If the driver is deemed to have passed, we provide a fitness certificate which the driver or employer can retain on file as evidence of their recent health check.

Driver screening medicals also count towards FORS and DVLA Earned recognition schemes as evidence of regular driver health checks.

We also provide company accounts with convenient booking and billing options for businesses.

To enquire about driver screening, provide your details below

Contact My Occ Health Today

To enquire about driver health screenings call 0330 094 5866, email enquiries@myocchealth.co.uk or complete our contact form below.