When an employee leaves a role involving workplace health risks, an exit medical can provide a useful final review of their occupational health at the end of that exposure.
Clarity provides end-of-employment and end-of-exposure assessments for employers across the UK. We help you identify when an exit medical may be appropriate, what the assessment should include and how to manage the process respectfully for both the employee and your organisation.
Whether an employee is leaving the business, moving into a role without the same exposure or completing a period of higher-risk work, we can help you create a practical, proportionate process around the hazards involved and the individual’s occupational health history.
An exit medical is an occupational health assessment carried out when someone leaves an exposed role, moves into work without the same exposure or leaves your organisation. It may help identify concerns that need follow-up and give the employee advice at the end of their time in that role.
The purpose is to:
Establish an appropriate health record at the point relevant exposure ends.
Identify symptoms, findings or changes that may need further review.
Provide the employee with clear advice on any recommended follow-up.
Support a consistent occupational health process from entry into an at-risk role through to the end of exposure.
Help employers ensure health-surveillance arrangements are closed out appropriately.
It is not a replacement for ongoing health surveillance or workplace exposure controls. Nor is it necessary for every employee who leaves.
An exit or end-of-exposure assessment may be appropriate where an employee:
The appropriate assessment will depend on the hazard involved and may include specific elements of health surveillance rather than a generic medical examination.
Employers must also continue to meet any requirements for the retention of health records after an employee leaves employment.
Exit medicals are not needed for every employee who leaves an organisation. They may be appropriate where the nature of the role, exposure history, health-surveillance programme or clinical findings mean a final assessment would provide useful information.
This may include employees who:
Are permanently leaving a role involving significant workplace exposure.
Have taken part in health surveillance for a relevant hazard.
Are moving into another role where the same exposure will no longer apply.
Have reported relevant symptoms or had an abnormal surveillance outcome during employment.
Have had a change in health that may be connected to workplace exposure.
Work in roles where a client, sector standard, regulatory requirement or occupational health programme includes end-of-exposure review.
The appropriate assessment depends on the hazard, role and individual history. It may involve specific health-surveillance elements rather than a broad, generic medical.
Step 1: Planning and eligibility
We work with HR, health and safety and operational teams to identify which employees should be offered an exit medical. This is based on their role, exposure history, existing surveillance programme, relevant findings and the reason their exposure is ending.
Step 2: Employee communication
Employees receive clear information about the purpose of the assessment, what it involves and how their information will be handled. This helps ensure they can make an informed decision and know what to expect.
Step 3: Focused clinical assessment
The clinician reviews relevant occupational health and exposure history, then carries out the checks appropriate to the hazards involved. This may include a questionnaire, clinical discussion and health-surveillance assessments linked to the employee’s work.
Step 4: Outcome and advice
The employee receives clear information about their outcome and any recommended follow-up. Where necessary, advice may include GP review, further assessment, referral or other appropriate support.
Employers receive the functional outcome and workplace-action information required for their records and programme management. Confidential medical details are not shared unnecessarily.
Step 5: Record retention and programme review
We help you ensure that outcomes are documented appropriately and that relevant records are maintained as part of your wider occupational health arrangements.
Aggregate findings can also help inform future risk assessment, exposure controls, health-surveillance design and employee-health initiatives.
Whether you are introducing an exit medical process, reviewing health-surveillance arrangements or looking to strengthen your approach to occupational health records, Clarity can help.
Tell us about your workforce, workplace exposures, current surveillance programme and operational priorities. We will guide you through the options and help you create an approach that is practical, proportionate and respectful.
Tell us a little about your workforce and what you need help with. We’ll call you back to talk through your options and the most practical way to deliver them.
Tell us your workforce size, locations and main risks. We’ll recommend a practical delivery model and respond within one working day.
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