Pre-Employment MedicalsSafer Together Fitness to Work Medicals.
Industry-aligned Fitness to Work (FTW) Medicals for workers in the onshore Australian oil and gas exploration and production industry — delivered consistently to the Safer Together guideline so assessments are portable between member companies.
Delivered nationally — in-clinic, in remote locations and onsite, aligned to the Safer Together Fitness to Work \u2013 Medical Assessment Guideline.
- All three Safer Together assessment types (General, Tight Seal, Mobile Equipment)
- Sign-off by an AHPRA-registered Occupational Physician, Doctor or Nurse
- Portable Fit Slip recognised across Safer Together member companies
- Clinicians experienced in remote and oil & gas worksites
- Optional add-ons: vaccinations and drug & alcohol screening
At least every three years — more frequently where a stable but chronic health condition requires it.
The short version
Safer Together Fitness to Work (FTW) Medicals are the industry-aligned pre-employment and health surveillance assessments required for workers in Australia’s onshore oil and gas exploration and production industry. KINNECT delivers all three assessment types defined in the Safer Together guideline — General (including remote/isolated work), Tight Seal Respirator Protection, and Mobile Equipment Operators — sign-off by an AHPRA-registered Occupational Physician, Occupational Health Doctor or Nurse, and a portable Fit Slip that follows the worker between Safer Together member companies. Assessments are required at least every three years.
A consistent fitness standard for onshore oil & gas workers.
A large proportion of Australia’s oil and gas exploration and production workforce operates in remote locations — far from sophisticated medical facilities and rapid emergency response. A pre-employment Fitness to Work (FTW) medical is critical to mitigate the likelihood of serious injury or ill health on site.
The Safer Together guidelines deliver a consistent, efficient and cost-effective FTW assessment across the industry — so when workers move between Safer Together member companies, they don’t have to start the medical process from scratch.
Workers in onshore oil & gas whose role involves:
- Remote or isolated location work
- Wearing tight-seal respiratory protection (e.g. confined-space entry, ERT)
- Driving vehicles or operating mobile plant, cranes or non-commercial driving
- Emergency response or rescue team duties
- Other high-risk activities flagged by the employer
Every element required by the Safer Together FTW guideline.
The base assessment covers every component required by the Safer Together Fitness to Work guideline. Additional elements are layered in based on the assessment type and the worker’s role profile.
Medical history questionnaire
Comprehensive review of medical history and previous occupational exposures relevant to remote oil & gas work.
Medical examination
Full physical examination by a clinician experienced in remote and onshore oil & gas worksites.
Vision screening
Visual acuity testing to confirm fitness for safety-critical and safety-sensitive activities.
Audiometry
Hearing assessment to baseline and monitor noise exposure risk in oil & gas operations.
Spirometry
Lung function testing for early detection of respiratory issues that affect fitness for tight-seal respirators.
Urinalysis
Standard urinalysis as part of the comprehensive Safer Together assessment battery.
Musculoskeletal assessment
Functional musculoskeletal screen to support safe fitness-for-task decisions in physically demanding roles.
Cardiovascular risk score
Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk calculation — critical for remote workers far from emergency services.
MBA20 & HbA1c blood tests
Non-fasting MBA20 plus HbA1c to screen for metabolic and diabetes-related risk factors.
Sleep apnoea screening
Screening for mobile plant operators and shift workers where the risk profile requires it.
Step test & functional assessment
Available on request — useful where the role demands sustained physical exertion.
Optional vaccinations & D&A
Vaccinations and drug & alcohol screening can be bundled where employer or job requirements call for them.
Three assessment types — chosen by role, not by guesswork.
The Safer Together guideline defines three assessment types. The right one depends on the work undertaken and the type of work site. We’ll help you map roles to assessments so every worker is screened against the exposures their job actually involves.
- 01
General Assessment
Includes remote and/or isolated work
The baseline Safer Together medical — the minimum assessment that every worker in a remote or isolated onshore oil & gas location should undergo. Can be complemented with the Tight Seal Respiratory and Mobile Equipment Operator elements when the role calls for them.
- Minimum standard for remote / isolated work
- Foundation for the other two assessment types
- Suits most general onshore oil & gas roles
- 02
Tight Seal Respirator Protection
For workers using breathing apparatus
Adds the assessment elements required for workers who rely on tight-seal respiratory protection — confined-space entry, emergency response teams and similar roles where respirator fit and tolerance are safety-critical.
- Confined-space entry workers
- Emergency Response Team (ERT) members
- Roles requiring tight-seal RPE
- 03
Mobile Equipment Operators
Evaluates sleep apnoea risk
Designed for workers who operate mobile equipment and non-commercial drivers, with an explicit sleep apnoea risk evaluation built in. Some companies choose to make this their default general assessment for added assurance.
- Mobile plant and crane operators
- Non-commercial drivers on site
- Often used as the default for sites with high mobile-equipment exposure
Reference: Safer Together Fitness to Work \u2013 Medical Assessment Guideline.
Every candidate leaves with a Safer Together \u201cFit Slip\u201d.
At the end of every Safer Together assessment, the candidate is issued a Fit Slip summarising the outcome. The Fit Slip is the portable, industry-recognised record that travels with the worker between Safer Together member companies.
If you disagree with the outcome
If a candidate does not meet the medical guideline, the examining doctor will explain the reason. Where the candidate believes the assessment doesn’t reflect their current state of health, a review process is available — three additional examining doctors review the documentation.
Fit unconditional
The candidate meets the medical guideline and is cleared for the role without restrictions.
Fit with conditions / modifications
The candidate is fit for the role with specific conditions or workplace modifications recorded on the Fit Slip.
Temporarily unfit
The candidate doesn’t currently meet the guideline. A review process is available where the candidate disputes the outcome.
In-clinic, onsite or remote — wherever your workforce is.
Safer Together Medicals can be signed off by an AHPRA-registered Occupational Physician, Occupational Health Doctor or Nurse, depending on the model chosen by the client. They are not state-specific, so a single program can cover a national workforce. We’ll guide you to the most appropriate sign-off option for your operation.
In our clinics
Delivered through KINNECT’s national network of owned clinics for individual or small-group bookings.
Onsite & remote
Clinicians mobilised to your camp, site or facility — ideal for high-volume mobilisations or remote locations.
Online booking
Use the Click & KINNECT Portal for single or small-group bookings, or talk to us about a managed program.
Find a KINNECT clinic near you.
Explore our current clinic locations. Service availability varies by clinic, so contact us to confirm the right location for this service.
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Frequently asked questions.
Who needs a Safer Together FTW medical assessment?
A Safer Together FTW medical is required by workers of participating Safer Together member companies and affiliated sites in the onshore Australian oil and gas industry whose role involves remote or isolated work, tight-seal respiratory protection, driving or operating mobile plant, emergency response or rescue duties, or other high-risk activities indicated by their employer.
How often does a Safer Together FTW medical need to be undertaken?
The Safer Together guidelines require the FTW medical to be undertaken at least every three years. Workers with a stable but chronic health condition may need more frequent assessments — for example, annually — at the discretion of the examining clinician.
What happens if I am deemed unfit and believe this is incorrect?
The examining doctor will explain the reason behind the outcome. If you believe the assessment doesn’t reflect your current state of health, a review process is available — three additional examining doctors review the documentation before a final determination is made.
Who can sign off a Safer Together medical?
Sign-off can be performed by an AHPRA-registered Occupational Physician, Occupational Health Doctor or Nurse, depending on the assessment model chosen by the client. Safer Together Medicals are not state-specific. KINNECT will guide you to the most appropriate sign-off option for your operation.
Can drug & alcohol testing or vaccinations be done at the same time?
Yes. Depending on the employer and job requirements, candidates may require vaccinations or a drug & alcohol screen alongside their Safer Together assessment. KINNECT can bundle these into the same appointment.
Is the Fit Slip portable between Safer Together member companies?
Yes. The Safer Together scheme is designed so that workers don’t have to repeat health assessments when they move between member companies. The Fit Slip is the recognised, portable record of the assessment outcome.
More detail at the Safer Together website.
Other pre-employment medicals KINNECT delivers.
Industry-aligned medicals, fit testing and onsite programs for safety-critical workforces. Explore the most relevant sister services below, or view the full Pre-Employment Medicals category.
Pre-Employment Medicals
Standard pre-employment medical assessments tailored to the role and inherent task demands.
Learn moreOEUK Medicals
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) medicals for offshore oil & gas crews working under the UK standard.
Learn moreConfined Space Medicals
Fitness assessments for workers performing confined-space entry and high-risk rescue work.
Learn moreRespirator Fit Testing
AS/NZS 1715-aligned qualitative and quantitative fit testing for tight-seal RPE.
Learn moreOnsite Medical Assessments
Bring KINNECT clinicians to your camp, project or facility for high-volume medical programs.
Learn more
Get workers onsite faster with Safer Together Medicals by KINNECT.
Talk to us about a tailored Safer Together program for your operation, or book a single assessment online through the Click & KINNECT Portal.