Just Got A New Job!

I graduated with my bs in chemistry in April, and I just accepted a job offer working for LA County Sanitation District (working in their labs).

I'm curious if any of you guys have gone through a similar pre-employment physical. I had to have the regular sports type of physical, drug test, x-rays, blood work, and a urine test. In all of my past positions the 1st two test were all that was required. Why so many test??

 

Gotta make sure you're healthy so you don't contaminate the poop water you'll be testing.

 

I didn't know companies are allowed to do stuff like that. Say I have diabetes or something, are they allowed to give me higher insurance rates because of that

 

Interesting, seems like a recipe for drama. Glad I'm healthy, but I can imagine that people who are over weight or have high bp etc probably aren't too happy about this.

 

Long story short.. Yep. It's the countermeasure from insurance groups no longer being able disallow you coverage based upon a pre-existing condition. Very soon all health care plans will be consumer based.

 

I Would say it is a precautionary workers comp type exam. To make sure you don't pop up with a later illness or injury and try to blame them when it was preexisting.

 

If you are employed "at will" they can test you for anything and deny employment for same (unless it's covered by the ADA laws). You can be denied for smoking which they can easily test for. Drug tests are for obvious reasons. The same goes for contract employees prior to hiring....once hired and thru the probationary period the union's contract provisions will govern.

 

How do they test for smoking?

 

Q: Do you have cigarettes on you?

A: Yes

R: You smoke

 

Duh! Practical.

 

Bloodtest can pick it up for at least 30 days, maybe more. Urine test can determine pot for over 30 days too. The chemistry tests are getting very sensitive, pretty soon if you goto a jimmie Buffet concert your liable to be busted, fired or worse....

 

I have a feeling your idea of "mildly" and mine are a little different.

 

Well, sometimes it the doctors with different views.

A number of years ago, I had a checkup and had my BP done and it came in at 140/85. I worked on it through diet and exercise, and no matter, it stayed right in that range. My doc at the time called it "mild hypertension", and said I shouldn't really worry about it.
<a decade goes by>
Recent physical with my new GP, I think i clocked in at 138/88. I told her I have always had "mild hypertension". She laughed right at me and said, "You either have high blood pressure or you don't...in your case, guess which it is?"

So back on non-med routines to see if I can get it down, but I'm thinking I am going on meds come my checkup, due in a couple weeks.

I have also joined the legions of folks showing very low rates of Vit. D...
Who is it that said "better living though chemistry"? Dow? ADM?

 

I used to work with HAZMAT at HAZWOPER sites and I had to get a yearly physical, which included the typical turn your head and cough, about 12 vials of blood being drawn, chest x-rays, hearing test and of course hair sample drug test. When working with potentially hazardous material, OSHA mandates that the employer has to keep a record of the employee's health, while employed, up to either 7 or 9 years after they no longer work for the company.

All the blood test are for heavy metals that may accumulate in your body. My buddy is a ballistics specialist and he has seen his Lead levels increase from 1 to 7 in the past three years.

Congrats on the new job, and I hope you don't mind needles.

 

Seriously? Any non-smoker can smell that nastiness on you from 20 feet away.

 

that was my thought this morning when i read that question...

the doc taking a deep breathe is all that is required.