Pre-work health check can reduce the risks

INSURANCE premiums and the price of claims are costing business big bucks, says Workforce Health Assessors managing director Jason Unwin.

Mr Unwin said if a business has a bad year with workplace injuries then compulsory workers compensation premiums could become tough to afford—not to mention the personal suffering to injured workers.

‘‘Why then does business take on the risk of employing people without using a sound pre-employment health assessment service?’’

Mr Unwin said the average pre-employment health assessment cost in Australia is about $170 and around $120 in Tasmania depending on what is requested.  ‘‘Unfortunately, when it comes to health assessments you don’t necessarily get what you pay for,’’ he said.

‘‘The trick is to compare apples with apples, so to speak, and look carefully at the providers, what testing is actually being conducted, the quality management and qualifications of the assessing staff. – by being passionate about these things WHA has become one of the fastest grow organisations offering specialist Pre-employment screening services in Australia’’  Mr Unwin said WHA is determined to lift the standards of work-related health assessments.

‘‘When either reviewing or contemplating the services of a pre-employment providers, employers are encouraged to look carefully at cost, quality and service delivery in their decision making process. Get it wrong and it could really cost you.’’

source: Mercury Newspaper, Hobart 2008