Workers in hazardous environments have the right to an occupational disease exam. Here is who must be examined, what it covers and which documents are needed.
What is an occupational disease
Put simply, an occupational disease is an illness caused by harmful working conditions affecting a worker over a long period. Unlike the flu or a stomach ache, which are usually linked to everyday habits, this type of disease is directly tied to risk factors in the workplace. Examples include coal workers' pneumoconiosis in miners who breathe in coal dust every day, hearing loss from very loud machinery, and chemical poisoning.
Who is required to be examined
Under the Law on Occupational Safety and Health and Circular 56/2025/TT-BYT, which provides detailed guidance, the following groups must have examinations arranged for them:
- People doing heavy, hazardous or dangerous work, including especially heavy, hazardous or dangerous work, on the list issued with Circular 11/2020/TT-BLĐTBXH of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
- People exposed to other harmful factors, even if their work is not on the list in Circular 11, in accordance with Clause 2, Article 21 of the Law on Occupational Safety and Health.
- People about to be assigned to a position with a risk of occupational disease. The employer must arrange an exam for them before assigning them to that position.
As for timing, the first occupational disease exam must be done 6 months after the date exposure to the risk factor begins. If an acute occupational disease is suspected, the exam is done when requested by a competent authority or the employer.
What an exam includes
Under Article 9 of Circular 56, the exam consists of the following parts:
- Exposure history: the doctor records your current health, past illnesses of you and your family, and especially how long you have actually worked with the harmful factors.
- In-depth examination based on risk factors: in addition to the physical exam, the doctor orders tests suited to your work position, such as blood tests for toxic substances, hearing tests, lung function tests or a chest X-ray.
- Female workers also receive an Obstetrics & Gynecology examination according to a separate list in Appendix VIII of Circular 56.
- If the results of the most recent periodic health check (done under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT, as amended by Circular 25/2026/TT-BYT) are still valid, the worker does not need to repeat the general physical exam. In that case, only the additional specialist exam and the specific tests for the hazardous factors at the workplace are needed.
Documents to prepare
Preparing the documents is the employer's responsibility, so that the exam runs quickly and follows the correct procedure. The set of documents includes:
- The health examination form used for the exam before job placement (form in Appendix II of Circular 56).
- The occupational disease health examination record, using the form in Appendix III.
- A copy of the still-valid workplace environmental monitoring (measurement) results for the current work position. If an acute illness is suspected due to an incident such as a chemical leak, this can be replaced by the Exposure Confirmation Record in Appendix IV.
- If available, a copy of the discharge papers or a relevant medical record summary.
Why you should get checked proactively
Do not wait until you feel tired or unwell to get checked. Attending every round of exams helps workers learn early about any harmful effects on their bodies so they can be treated and prevented in time. The exam results are also the legal basis for being assigned more suitable work and receiving insurance benefits and compensation as regulated.
Ky Hoa Medical Center offers corporate health check-ups and general health check-ups. Businesses and workers who need periodic health check-ups can contact the Center for advice.
Ky Hoa Medical Center is open Monday to Saturday, 6:30 - 11:30 and 13:00 - 17:00; closed on Sunday. Address: 266A - 268 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Hotline 028.3868.1097.
Source: Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life) newspaper