Our Health Working Group has released Rev 2.0 of our Fitness to Work – Medical Assessment Guideline (FTW-MAG), and held a Lunch & Learn in Brisbane for both face-to-face and virtual delegates to advise our members and medical practitioners of the changes to the updated Guideline.
Opened by Norm Neligan (Health, Emergency & Security Manager, Arrow Energy) who presented a brief history of the Health Working Group (HWG), and an Arrow Energy Case Study of their adoption and deployment of the FTW-MAG, including a look at the benefits this has brought to their business, and the health benefits this has brought to the Arrow Energy workforce.
Scott Wilkinson (Health Services Manager, ConocoPhillips) began the next presentation with the ‘how and why’ the HWG has worked to simplify the whole FTW process to make it easier for Operators and Contractors, and for the Health Providers who provide the final sign-off.
He acknowledged first that the medical FTW process is an integral element in ensuring the safety of personnel in our industry, with a high proportion of our workforce carrying out activities in remote locations, away from sophisticated medical facilities and rapid emergency response.
Being ‘fit for work’ means being able to safely perform the essential physical and mental requirements of a job in a designated environment without risk to self, others or the environment’.
FTW-MAG medicals’ primary aim is to identify and manage medical conditions that predispose a worker to illness or injury in the workplace, thereby reducing medical events that may have poor outcomes.
Avoidance of all medical events is the aim.
Scott explained that the Rev 2.0 update of the Guideline includes standardising the FTW assessment by simplifying how operators can establish a process, and by allowing contractors to use the same FTW evidence (Fit Slip) while working for different operating companies. This is intended to deliver the following outcomes:
- Recognition of FTW status between companies – reducing the need for repeat medicals.
- Predictable and consistent quality of FTW assessments to simplify assurance.
- The above two points reduce cost directly through reducing need for multiple FTW and indirectly by simplifying contract management and assurance.
Scott finished his presentation with a look at the changes made to Rev 2.0 FTW-MAG documentation and process, before giving some time to a Q&A form the virtual and face-to-face audience.
The event was then handed over to Susan Pacey (HSE Manager, Aspen Medical), who facilitated a question and answer panel session with Scott Wilkinson, Lauren Baggoley (Senior Advisor Medical Health and Wellbeing, Santos), Jessica Press (Occupational Health Specialist, Chevon), Abigail McPherson (M&IS HSEQ Manager, Monadelphous) and Dennis Murphy (Principal Health Advisor, Resile) comprising the panel.
The Panel responded to the many detailed and informed questions from both the face-to-face and virtual audience, with Norm returning to close the event.
Follow this link to the Fitness to Work – Medical Assessment Guideline Rev 2.0.
View a full recording of the event.
Read a Case Study of Arrow Energy's deployment of the FTW-MAG.
Get in touch with our Health Working Group with any questions about the Guideline.