Health Services, Medical Examinations and Testing for the City Human Resources, Fire Rescue, and Police Departments

Contractor shall provide employment medical examinations and tests for City employees. The medical examinations shall include but not limited to: physical exam, disease assessment, blood and laboratory tests, controlled substance tests, vaccinations, respirator examinations, and fitness evaluations.

General

The City employs approximately 3,200 full-time and 700 part-time employees in 500 different job classifications. Most City employees are represented by seven (7) bargaining units. Employment medical examinations and tests are an integral part of the City’s efforts to ensure that job classifications are safely staffed by physically capable individuals. This is accomplished using employment medical examinations, controlled substance tests, vaccinations, and respirator examinations. Exams are primarily requested by the Human Resources Department (“HR”), Parks and Recreation (“Parks/Rec”), the Fire/Rescue Department (“Fire/Rescue”) and the Police Department (“Police”).

The City requires employment alcohol and controlled substance tests including tests required by The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act (“OTETA”) with approximately 250 drug tests and 60 alcohol tests ordered annually. Reference the Department of Transportation website at http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc for more information.

Job Classification

Approximately 200 of the City’s job classifications have medical standards which applicants and employees must meet to be eligible for initial, continued or promotional placement. The medical standards are based upon relevant physical demands of the job classification, and federal and state regulations. The City’s non-discriminatory physical standards reflect the necessary requirements of the job classification and are based upon complete, factual information regarding working conditions, hazards, and essential functions of each job. Additionally, some job classifications require testing for controlled substances. The City refers approximately 200 individuals annually for employment medical examinations and tests.

All employees whose job classification requires the use of respirators must have a respirator medical examination. The City refers approximately 45 employees annually for this type of specialized medical examination.

Fire/Rescue

Fire/Rescue requires employment medical examinations for sworn employee candidates and annual medical examinations for all active duty sworn, as well as a limited number of civilian employees. Fire/Rescue medical examinations are performed according to the guidelines set by the National Fire Protection Association’s (“NFPA”) 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, current edition, as modified by the City. Additionally, the annual medical examination offers evaluations to employees that include chest x-rays, breast examinations and cervical cancer examinations. In the past year, Fire/Rescue has referred approximately 50 employee candidates for employment medical examinations, 330 employees for annual medical examinations, 150 for chest x-rays, three for breast examinations, and 3 for cervical cancer examinations.

Police

Police requires employment medical examinations for candidates being hired into sworn positions and provides annual comprehensive medical examinations for sworn officers, age 35 and above. These Police medical examinations are voluntary and intended to identify and inform officers of conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and other physical conditions. The Police refer approximately 95 officers annually for medical examinations. The Police also maintain: A random substance testing program that requires approximately 100 drug tests per year; a lead level testing program related to their firing range that requires approximately 100 tests per year; a vaccination program; approximately 10-15 chest x-rays per year; and approximately 10-15 screenings related to chemical exposures.

Employee (Voluntary)

The City also provides medical examinations and a wellness check to certain classifications of employees on a voluntary basis, once every three years, to evaluate physical conditions and offer recommendations. Approximately nine employees are eligible for this program.