Medical check-ups in the workplace – when are they required?
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Medical examinations in the workplace are not general health check-ups for all employees. AFS 2023:15 specifies which jobs require the employer to arrange examinations, when a certificate of fitness is required, and how the results should be used in occupational health and safety work.
Quick Overview
- AFS 2023:15 applies to medical examinations for specifically regulated exposures and work tasks.
- Examinations are required in certain cases involving, for example, vibrations, hand-intensive work, night work, and allergenic substances.
- For certain jobs, medical examinations with an assessment for a certificate of fitness are required.
- Employers must use the results in their systematic occupational health and safety work.
- It is important to distinguish between the necessary register information for the employer and medical information covered by confidentiality.
| Map out | Which work tasks are covered by AFS 2023:15? |
| Assess requirements | Medical examination or examination with certificate of fitness? |
| Order | Provide the healthcare provider with correct information about exposure and working conditions. |
| Monitor validity | Plan the next examination before certificates or intervals expire. |
| Take action | Use results at the group and work environment level for preventive measures. |
Which jobs are covered?
The regulations cover, among other things, medical examinations for vibrations, hand-intensive work, night work, and certain allergenic substances. For other exposures, such as certain fibrosis-inducing dusts, lead, cadmium, mercury, and certain types of climbing with significant differences in height, there are requirements for examinations with a certificate of fitness.
A certificate of fitness is a specific assessment
A certificate of fitness shows that a medical assessment has been performed for the risk work in question. The certificate must contain the information required by the regulations, including which work the examination pertains to and the expiry date. This is not the same as the employer having access to the entire medical record.
The order documentation must describe the exposure
For a medical examination to be relevant, the healthcare provider needs the correct documentation regarding work tasks, exposure, protective measures, and any measurement values. A general "health check-up" request is not sufficient when a regulated examination is required.
The results must lead back to the work environment management
Employers must review the results that may and should be provided, use them in their systematic work environment management, and take necessary action to prevent ill health. In other words, examinations do not replace risk reduction at the source.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking that the occupational health service's general health check-up automatically fulfills AFS 2023:15.
- Failing to map out which employees and work tasks are actually covered.
- Missing the expiry date for certificates of fitness.
- Storing more personal medical data than the business needs.
- Treating medical examinations as a substitute for technical protective measures.
Frequently asked questions
Is a medical examination required for everyone who works nights?
AFS 2023:15 contains specific rules for night work. If an employee is covered, the employer must arrange an examination in accordance with the regulations.
When is a certificate of fitness required?
For certain specifically regulated high-risk work, such as certain chemical exposures, fibrosis-inducing dust, and climbing with significant differences in height.
Is the employer allowed to see diagnoses?
The employer must handle the information required by the regulations for the work environment and fitness for work, not the entire medical record.
Does the examination replace the risk assessment?
No. A medical examination is a supplement; exposure must still be prevented and reduced as far as the regulations require.
Registers and documentation for medical examinations
The template package helps employers map out requirements, order the correct examination, monitor certificates of fitness, and document follow-ups.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: October 5, 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace a business-specific work environment assessment.
