Fixed or Mobile? Two Ways to Deliver Examinations
Two Ways to Deliver Examinations
According to Art.5/1 of the Regulation on the Procedures and Principles of Medical Examinations for the Health Surveillance of Workers, medical examinations within the scope of this regulation are performed using a mobile occupational health vehicle and/or a fixed medical examination facility. These two routes determine where the examination is carried out:
- Fixed examination: The examination is performed at the authorized unit’s physical medical examination facility. In this route, the worker comes to the examination facility (the center).
- Mobile examination: The mobile occupational health vehicle travels to the workplace, and the examination is performed on site, at the workplace. In this route, the vehicle comes to the workplace where the workers are located.
Regardless of the method, the same examinations can be obtained. Chest X-ray, audiometry, pulmonary function test (PFT), eye examination, ECG and laboratory tests can be performed both at the fixed facility and with the mobile vehicle.
Comparison of Fixed and Mobile
| Criterion | Fixed Examination | Mobile Examination |
|---|---|---|
| Where the examination is performed | The authorized unit’s physical medical examination facility | Mobile occupational health vehicle, at the workplace |
| Who travels | The worker comes to the center | The vehicle comes to the workplace |
| Available examinations | Chest X-ray, audiometry, PFT, eye, ECG, laboratory | Chest X-ray, audiometry, PFT, eye, ECG, laboratory |
| Legal basis | Art.5/1 | Art.5/1 |
As the table shows, the fundamental difference between the two routes is where the examination is performed and who travels; in terms of the types of examinations available and the validity of the examination, the two methods are equivalent.
Common Rules Applicable to Both Routes
Regardless of the fixed/mobile distinction, certain rules governing the examination process apply equally to both routes:
- Source of the request (Art.5/7): The examination is carried out upon the request of the workplace physician assigned to the workplace where the worker’s social security registration is filed.
- Sharing of results (Art.5/8): Examination results are shared with the workplace physician within 20 days at the latest.
- Ownership and non-transferability (Art.5/6): The mobile occupational health vehicle or the fixed medical examination facility belongs solely to the authorized workplace health and safety unit (İSGB), Joint Health and Safety Unit (OSGB) or Worker Health Center (ÇASMER); it cannot be leased or transferred.
These common rules ensure that — regardless of whether the examination is performed at a fixed facility or with a mobile vehicle — the process starts with the workplace physician’s request, is concluded within the specified period, and the examination infrastructure remains under the ownership of the authorized unit.