What Are New Starter Medicals?
Pre-employment medicals explained — what they cover, when they are required and how they protect both employer and employee.
A new starter medical (also called a pre-placement or pre-employment medical) is an assessment carried out after a job offer has been made, to confirm that the candidate is fit for the specific role.
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers cannot ask health-related questions before making a job offer — but a post-offer medical is permitted, and in safety-critical roles is strongly recommended.
Typical content includes a health questionnaire, baseline measurements (blood pressure, BMI, urinalysis), and role-specific elements such as audiometry, lung function, working-at-height clearance or HGV / D4 medicals.
Done well, new starter medicals protect employees from being placed into roles that may harm their health, and protect employers from liability and avoidable absence later down the line.