Understanding Your Restrictions
1. Can resume normal duties but must report any side effects immediately to your line manager
a. the individual taking the medication can continue as before. If any medication changes the check should be performed again.
2. Must remain accompanied at all times when performing safety critical duties and for a further 12, 24 or 48 hours after the last dose and report side effects
a. If you are in a safety critical role, then you must inform your line manager that for all safety critical duties you must have someone assigned to you, aware that you are on medication that could put you at risk, and for them to accompany you for the entire duration of the medication AND for a further period of time after you finish your medication.
b. Some medication is taken for a long duration, in these cases it may be appropriate for the company’s occupational health provider to assess your condition and medication to determine if you are experiencing side effects. If your medication and general health is being managed well then the occupational health practitioner may reduce the restriction.
c. If you are in a non-safety critical role, then you can continue as normal, only requiring accompanied duties for when you are in a safety critical position.
3. Cannot work. This applies for the duration of the medication and for a further 12, 24 or 48 hours after the last dose.
a. This is a rare outcome - usually where the medication has such dramatic side effects, or is on the banned substance list that it is not safe for the individual to work, even if accompanied and monitored.
4. Do not carry out normal duties, may perform other safety critical duties if accompanied at all times and for a further 12, 24 or 48 hours after the last dose.
a. This is a rare outcome – sometimes selected for train or HGV drivers, where it is impossible for the individual to be accompanied.
5. Additional restrictions:
All accompanied duties also carry the following restrictions:
i. Do not drive a train
ii. Do not drive a commercial vehicle
iii. Do not work at height
6. Refer to OHP - The medication suggests an underlying condition that requires review by an Occupational Health Practitioner.
a. Here the line manager must organise for the individual to have an occupational health referral as soon as possible. It is in the individual’s and company’s interest to organise this quickly to determine whether the individual is:
i. Managing their medication satisfactorily
ii. Feeling generally well and not experiencing side effects
iii. Managing their diet (especially diabetes medicines)
iv. Managing their exercise (especially diabetes medicines)
v. Monitoring their blood glucose levels regularly (diabetes medicines only)
vi. Patient is aware medication can cause hypoglyaemia and knows how to manage hypoglycaemia
vii. There has not been any severe hypoglycaemic event in the previous 12 months
If OHP feels the above is being managed, they may lift any restrictions
7. Wait 15 minutes after application before resuming normal duties
a. Most commonly suggested with some optical applications, drops or creams. It is usual for there to be blurred vision for a short period.
8. Further restrictions
a. On occasion the pharmacist may impose additional restrictions due to the effect of the combined medication. Most commonly the additional advice is in relation to the risks of overdosing where an individual is taking too many paracetamol medications.
