Parameters Tested When Acquiring A DOT Health Card

By Karen Patterson


There are areas of operations in driving that are referred to as safety sensitive. These are situations in the transport industry that have a crucial impact on the safety of the vehicle operator and the people around them. The department of transport requires that one acquires a DOT health card to prove that they are fit to operate in such conditions. When acquiring it, there is a process that involves a lot of physical checks on your body.

The most important part is the vision. A driver should have an accurate vision whether they use driving grasses or not. They are expected to have a seventy-inch horizontal meridian and twenty to forty acuity. The test will be to check whether they have achieved this and in case of a problem or shortage appropriate medication to correct the vision of a driver is prescribed.

Another crucial test that is carried out is the ability of the professional to perceive sound. Communication when operating in this nature of environment or operations requires that the driver be able to communicate well with the people around them. It is undertaken to prove if the professional can hear what is normally called forced whisper at a distance of five feet away.

Blood pressure or pulse rate. A test is carried out to give indications of the presence of an irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure. If this crucial test is ignored, a condition like a heart attack can happen to the driver endangering their life and that of all the people around them. This card will give the green light on if the blood pressure of this expert is fit to operate in such situations.

Urinalysis is an important test that is taken to look for traces of health issues like diabetes. This test is undertaken to reveal the existence of conditions that require daily medication and considered to be dangerous if the same is ignored. Its importance is to reveal if their level if present can affect the working of a driver and the effect on the public if they deteriorate.

The test will also involve a check into the breathing and lungs condition. This is one of the most critical conditions that is checked. The test checks for conditions like asthma, tuberculosis, and bronchitis. This is hazardous conditions which if not managed accurately puts the lives of both driver and the public at significant risk. Once noted immediate medication is advised and if they are extreme the department can invoke the license to operate in sensitive situations.

The health condition of the spine is also checked to ascertain if the spine of a driver is fit for operations in sensitive environments. This is mostly for long distance drivers especially trucks who require sitting for long hours. The test is normally carried out to indicate whether they have a limitation of motion, previous surgery on the spine and its tenderness.

Finally, a test to ascertain the condition of the abdomen and viscera is taken. The purpose of this very important test is to check for enlarged liver and muscle weakness. The card will be issued once it is clarified that the abdomen is in good condition and no illness can adversely affect the working of this professional.




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