When can assessments of workers take place?

Assessments of workers can take place before starting a job and when an exposure occurs because this approach ensures that health and safety risks are addressed proactively. Conducting assessments prior to employment allows for the identification of any pre-existing conditions that may affect the worker's ability to perform their job safely. Furthermore, evaluating workers when an exposure occurs is critical for timely intervention and management of health issues arising from occupational hazards. These assessments help in tracking health trends over time and facilitate appropriate medical responses, ensuring a healthier workforce and compliance with occupational health regulations.

The other options present limitations that do not reflect comprehensive strategies for worker assessments. Assessing only during annual evaluations fails to account for the dynamic nature of work environments and the potential for new exposures that could affect worker health. Restricting assessments to the onboarding process means that ongoing health risks are overlooked, failing to monitor the worker's health in relation to their job over time. Lastly, conducting assessments every five years indefinitely does not allow for timely evaluation of acute exposures or changes in the worker's condition, which could compromise their health and safety. Therefore, the most effective approach is to conduct assessments both before employment and when new exposures are identified.