How a Fit for Work Assessment Ensures Compliance and Safety

As workplace demands grow more complex, businesses across Australia are seeing increasing complexity in managing employees’ health, particularly when it comes to mental health. Fitness for Work (FFW) assessments are becoming an essential tool to ensure employees are both physically and psychologically capable of performing their roles safely. For industries such as mining, oil and gas, transportation, and manufacturing, where compliance is non-negotiable, OSHGroup delivers trusted, independent Fitness for Work assessments designed to protect both your people and your business.

Why Fitness for Work Assessments Matter

A Fit for Work assessment can ensure that an employee is capable of meeting their job demands without posing a risk to themselves, their colleagues, or the business. These assessments go beyond basic health checks by addressing both physical and psychological factors.
The stakes are high:

• Mental health accounts for 9% of serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia, with claims increasing by nearly 37% in recent years (Safe Work Australia).
• Psychological fitness for work assessments are now more frequently required, reflecting rising cases of adjustment disorders, anxiety, and depression affecting workers’ capacity to safely perform their duties.
• Physically, musculoskeletal conditions such as back injuries in transport or repetitive strain in mining remain leading causes of lost time at work.

A structured fitness for work assessment in Australia ensures compliance with workplace health and safety regulations while minimising risks of costly disruptions.

Mental Health and Fitness for Work

Assessing mental fitness for work has grown increasingly complex. Employers now face challenges such as:

• Determining when to refer a worker for a psychiatric FFW assessment.
• Providing accurate and sufficient background information for assessors.
• Ensuring leaders and supervisors are equipped to support employees returning to work after mental health challenges.

For example, a rail operator recently referred a worker with increasing absenteeism and behavioural changes. Through OSHGroup’s fitness for work assessment, the business received actionable guidance on the employee’s recovery prospects and necessary workplace adjustments, helping avoid further safety risks and ensuring compliance with Fair Work obligations.

Physical Health and Job Demands

Physical incapacity also impacts productivity and safety. In one mining case, a driver with untreated musculoskeletal pain was unable to meet the physical demands of operating heavy machinery. An independent fitness for work medical assessment by OSHGroup clarified limitations, recommended rehabilitation, and provided a structured return-to-work plan, protecting both worker welfare and operational safety.

OSHGroup’s Expertise

At OSHGroup, Fitness for Work assessments in Australia are designed for clarity, compliance, and confidence. Each evaluation is conducted by Occupational Physicians and Registrars with expertise across high-risk industries. Our services include:

• Specialist assessments and independent medical opinions.
• Functional capacity assessments.
• Psychological fitness for work assessments.
• Job profiling to match medical capacity with role demands.
• Worksite assessments to reduce risk.

Employers receive a clear, defensible report and, where appropriate, a Fitness for Work certificate tailored to the case. This ensures compliance with fitness for work assessment Fair Work obligations while supporting safe, productive workplaces.

A New Level of Certainty

In today’s climate, where mental health claims and physical injury risks are increasing, a Fit for Work assessment is not just compliance; it’s a proactive business strategy. By partnering with OSHGroup, organisations benefit from timely, evidence-based evaluations that safeguard employees while reducing financial exposure.

Learn more about OSHGroup’s Fitness for Work services here!