Pre-Employment Physicals

Many workplaces require prospective employees to undergo a pre-employment physical exam to ensure that candidates’ physical condition is in keeping with the requirements of the job at hand. Typically, pre-employment physicals include a thorough physical exam and medical history along with vision and hearing tests. Depending on the job and employer, they may also include testing of your lung capacity, a cardiac stress test, and drug and alcohol screening via blood test. Additional, more specialized testing may evaluate your pull and grip strength for jobs that require frequent heavy lifting. Importantly, a pre-employment physical cannot be used to discriminate against a patient based on a pre-existing medical condition or disability, unless that condition pertains to a capability that is specifically required to do the job.