Employers must arrange a health check for their workers on a Portuguese construction site before they start working, then further checks at regular intervals afterwards.
What it means
An occupational health check looks at whether a worker is fit for the job they are about to do. On a construction site, this covers the physical demands and risks of the work, such as heavy lifting, working at height, or noise. The check is carried out under the responsibility of an occupational doctor (médico do trabalho). The doctor records the result on a fitness record (ficha de aptidão) and sends a copy to the employer.
The record states whether the worker is fit; it does not contain clinical details.
Who has to do it?
The employer must arrange the checks for its employees, whatever type of employment contract they have. These rules are built around the relationship between an employer and its workers. How they apply to self-employed people working on site depends on the situation, so confirm it with an occupational health service rather than assuming.
When?
A first check has to happen before the person starts with work (Law 102/2009, article 108). After that, checks continue at set intervals. Workers under 18 or over 50 need a check every year. All other workers need one every two years. An additional check is needed after a substantial change in the work, or when a worker returns after an absence for illness of more than 30 days.
How it works
The check assesses the worker against the tasks and risks of the job they will do. If the worker is found fit, this is recorded, and the worker can start or continue working.
If a problem is found, the employer needs to act on it, for example by adjusting duties or arranging further care, before the person continues in that role.
What to watch out for
It is easy to treat the first check as a one-off box to tick. The follow-up checks matter just as much, especially for younger and older workers, who are checked more often because of their higher risk profile. The fitness record stays with the employer: health data is sensitive, so do not ask for or pass on more than is needed.
The interval is not the same for everyone. Workers under 18 or over 50 are checked every year; everyone else, every two years. Extra checks apply after substantial changes in the work or a long sick absence.