Life Long Learning and Continuing Professional Development are the processes
by which professionals, such as nurses, develop and improve their practice.
There are many ways to address CPD: formally, through attending courses,
study days and workshops; or informally, through private study and reflection.
Reading articles in professional journals is a good way of keeping up-to-date
with what is going on in the field of practice, but reflecting and identifying
what you have learnt is not always easy. These questions are designed to help
you to identify what you have learnt from studying the article. They will also
help you to clarify what you can apply to practice, what you did not understand
and what you need to explore further.
1. What legislation has accelerated the debate on the assessment of
fitness to work?
a) Disability
b) Employment
c) European
d) Health and safety
2. OH nurses need to recognise the legal requirements of employment for
the benefit of
a) The Health and Safety Executive
b) The environmental health officer
c) Employers and employees
d) Trade unions
3. The fitness to work framework can also be used to help with
a) Reducing insurance premiums
b) Litigation processes
c) Disciplinary procedures
d) Documentation
4. Assessment should be made on
a) Test results
b) Each individual
c) Past history
d) Medical criteria
5. Assessment of fitness to work has to consider which of the following
health aspects?
a) Psychological
b) Physical
c) Sociological and intellectual
d) All of the above
6. In order to assess fitness to work the OH nurse needs a thorough
knowledge of
a) The job specification
b) Individual qualities
c) The contract of employment
d) Interviewing procedures
7. Standard requirements for fitness to work are available for
a) Nurses, drivers and offshore workers
b) Nurses, teachers and drivers
c) Drivers, offshore workers and teachers
d) Nurses, teachers and offshore workers
8. Documentation of the decision-making process aids
a) Transparency and efficacy
b) Opacity and equitability
c) Transparency and equitability
d) Opacity and efficacy
9. In the working environment when should lifts NOT be used
a) When they are being cleaned
b) During silent hours
c) When there is an emergency such as fire
d) When building inspections are taking place
10. The Disability Discrimination Act applies to employers with more than
a) 1,500 or more employees
b) 150 or more employees
c) 51 or more employees
d) 15 or more employees
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1.a)
All this legislation is important with regards to health at work but the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has put a different slant on fitness to
work. Obtain a copy of the booklet, The Disability Discrimination Act 1995:
What employers need to know (1999) DL170 available from the Disability Rights
Commission. 2. c), 3. d) The framework may help with all the factors
providing suitable documentation is in place. Revise your knowledge of records
and record keeping by reading the 1998 UKCC booklet, Guidelines for records and
record keeping. 4. b) Although the other answers are all important every
individual should be assessed separately. 5. d), 6. a) A sound knowledge
of the workplace and the work the individual will be doing is necessary in
order to make an assessment of fitness to work. 7. c) This answer is
interesting and should promote debate. Discuss it with respected colleagues or
at you local OH group and consider how you may be able to bring about change
should you think it is necessary. 8. c) See the answer to question 3.
9. c), 10. d) Originally the figure was 20 or more employees but it was
quickly changed to 15. Take some time to explore the Disability Rights
Commission website at www.drc-gb.org.uk and see what interesting and useful
publications can be downloaded or obtained free of charge.
