The pre-employment medical screening process is a fitness for work assessment step for Custodial staff and an established part of the Custodial recruitment process.

The Department employs Custodial staff with a variety of health statuses, health conditions and aids, including staff that wear glasses, pacemakers, attached insulin pumps, and hearing aids.

With all health conditions and aids, key considerations in addition to health are safety and security (managing relevant risks to ensure we keep people safe), and Equal Opportunities, Inclusion & staffing (enabling reasonable accommodations to be a good employer). The Department also acknowledges that staff also are responsible for ensuring that they are fit for work and able to work safely.

How it works

We use a qualified third-party provider to carry out the pre-employment medical screening process - the costs associated with this are covered by Corrections.

For most candidates, this pre-employment medical screening will clear them for employment and candidates will be able to progress in the process. However, if there are risks identified and further review is required by your GP, specialists including audiologists; associated fees and costs will need to be covered by the candidate.

What we look for

To help you quickly check if you meet our pre-employment medical screening, we’ve created a short tool here. Note that this is a guide only and will not be used to assess your final suitability.

Complete the pre-employment medical screening check.

Detailed Specifications

The specifications below are an overview only and other conditions and symptoms will be discussed during the full assessment. We reserve the right to amend these at any stage and make changes based on our operational safety requirements.

Muscular Skeletal
Visual
Spirometry
Other medical conditions
Psychological
Cardiovascular System
Cholesterol
Blood sugar
Fatigue
Use of Prescription medications
Audio
- Use of Hearing Aids

Muscular Skeletal

High importance to be placed on hands, wrists, feet, knees due to prisoner restraint

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Full to Minor limitations in ROM in most joints/limbs *(excluding hands/feet/ knees*) Full ROM hands/feet/knees Digit Amputation and has average to strong grip strength.	Moderate limitations in ROM in some joints/limbs AND/OR Minor to moderate limitation in ROM hands/feet/knee) Any below knee amputation Amputation of digits with weak grip strength Awaiting Surgery/current injury	Unable to complete a deep squat. Unable to get up after completing a full squat without support. Unable to raise arms above head. Unable to raise arms above head when arms are outstretched to the side. Any amputation above the knee Any amputation of the arm

Visual

Due to working in a safety critical environment. Needing to be aware of their surroundings.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Better than or equal to 6/9 combined vision - uncorrected & corrected in both eyes. 6/18 or better in either eye Visual field >=140˚	6/9 or worse combined vision corrected and uncorrected in both eyes 6/18 or worse in either eye Eye movement test shows limitations Visual field <140˚	Loss of vision in one eye that is uncorrectable

Spirometry

Due to nature of role being very physical and demanding. Need to determine lung capacity and underlining issues.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
> 70%	60% – 70% and symptomatic Or If less than 70% and asymptomatic

Other medical conditions

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Nil history of serious illness or repetitive injuries	History of serious illness (e.g. cancer, leukaemia) or repetitive injuries that has resolved or asymptomatic.	Presence of chronic conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis or advanced osteoarthritis

Psychological

Due to the highly stressful environment which is part of the role as Corrections Officer.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
No history of any Mental Health issues/ episodes.	Previous history of any psychological condition, including but not limited to: Depression/PTSD/Anxiety/ Psychosis/ ADHD Current and stable (managed) psychological condition, including but not limited to: Depression /PTSD/ Anxiety/ Psychosis/ ADHD Previous admission to a Mental Health Facility Previous or current prescription of any medication related to a psychological condition.	Current unstable psychological condition including but not limited to: Depression /PTSD/ Anxiety/ Psychosis/ ADHD

Cardiovascular System

To determine if they are safe to perform the physical readiness assessment.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Blood Pressure less than 140/90 No history of heart disease or cardiac procedure No history of chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or irregular heartbeat	Blood Pressure 140/90 and over History of heart disease or cardiac procedure History of chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or irregular heartbeat

Cholesterol

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Cholesterol < than 7	Cholesterol 7 and over

Blood Sugar

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Blood Sugar < than 10mmol	Blood sugar – 10mmol and above

Fatigue

The role is stressful, long hours and the need for high concentration is essential.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Reviewed in assessment	Reviewed in assessment

Use of Prescription medications

If the medication has been legitimately prescribed and the employee can continue working safely and well in their role, then we are required and committed to support them in their role.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Prescribed medications do not cause any loss of concentration, tiredness, dizziness or affect their safety within the workplace.	Takes prescription medications which may cause impairment and loss of concentration resulting in the safety within the workplace.

Audio

Can wear an earpiece and still hear ambient sound sufficiently well to be safe.

Fit for Work	Refer for Review	Unfit for work
Medical history – no contraindications (including no hearing aids) Hearing of 20dB or less in each ear at 500Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz and 3KHz. AND a hearing threshold of 30dB or better at 4KHz in both ears.	Without Hearing Aids Mild loss in either ear (>25-40dB) (equivalent to a whisper range) at more the one frequency >1kHz. Unilateral hearing loss Greater than 40dB but less then 60dB in more than one frequency If hearing loss is less than a total of 84 dB over the 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz range or less than a total of 123 dB over the 3,4 and 6 kHz range in BOTH ears candidate is fit for the role. If hearing loss is more than a total of 84 dB over the 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz range or more than a total of 123 dB over the 3,4 and 6 kHz range in ONE or BOTH ears the candidate is high risk and currently unfit for the role. With hearing aids Medical history - potential contraindications Hearing of 35dB or less in each ear at 500Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz and 3KHz. AND an average of 25dB or less in each ear averaged over 500Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz and 3KHz. AND hearing threshold of 45dB or better at 4KHz in each ear. AND speech in quiet and speech in noise testing should be completed.	Medical history - potential contraindications Full loss of hearing in at least one ear (60dB or greater in more than one frequency). Does not meet Medium requirements, and candidate advised to see audiologist for hearing exam. Meniere’s disease Benign positional paroxysmal vertigo Hearing Aids – Refer medium risk. To be approved on a case-by-case basis using hearing aid guidelines and assessment protocol.

Use of Hearing Aids

If a Hearing Aid is required, an audiologist must advise if they meet the hearing standard requirements and that the hearing aid fit/function meets our standards and document this in the written confirmation.

If they do not meet requirements, then it must be discussed as to what options are available to meet the requirements (potential change to hearing aids).

Hearing Aid Requirements

Requirement	Detail	Guidance
Fit	They need to fit with an earpiece They need to have a suitably strong fit that they are unlikely to get knocked out of the ear during daily tasks or expected ad-hoc tasks (e.g. C&R)	An assessment should be made by the audiologist to confirm the stability of the aids in terms of fit, primarily for risk of dislodgment in a struggle and whether indwelling aids are required.
Types of hearing aid	Whether over-ear or in-ear is being considered. The hearing aid receiver needs to work while wearing a Corrections supplied earpiece which is generally connected to a digital radiotelephone system. The standard radio earpiece for Custodial officers is the Motorola D-Shell - PMLN7396A Other example earpiece options provided by Corrections include: Motorola translucent tube and rubber ear tip Motorola Mag-one flexible Earpiece with inline mic and push to talk Flexible earpiece – C style	Consideration of the type of hearing aid worn and confirm that is suitable to work with an earpiece from an audiological point of view. Noting that volume needs to be at a level where others within 1m cannot hear.
Bluetooth hearing aid	Some Bluetooth hearing aids can connect directly to radios. Alternatively, Workbridge can be contacted for a Bluetooth loop to make a connection.	Consider this requirement when deciding on the type of hearing aid provided.
Equipment maintenance	Hearing aids must be used at all times at work and must be well maintained. Must be serviced, checked and inspected regularly – at least annually. If a hearing aid is faulty or lost then the person may be stood down to limited duties, based on fitness for work.	Consider this requirement when deciding on the type of hearing aid provided.
Hearing aid damage cost and or replacement	Note that Corrections do not fund maintenance or replacement costs. Any costs associated with the Hearing aids must be covered by the individual or their personal insurance cover.	Consider this requirement when deciding on the type of hearing aid provided.