Medical Exam (Badania lekarskie) for Welders in Poland: Which Doctors to Pass and Who Pays?

Working in Poland is impossible without a medical certificate. We explain how the occupational medical exam works for welders, which doctors you must see, and why you shouldn't pay out of pocket.

No legally employed worker in Poland has the right to start working without a certificate from an occupational medicine doctor (Lekarz medycyny pracy). For office workers, this is a simple 10-minute formality, but for welders and locksmiths, the medical examination is much more thorough.

Many candidates worry: "What if my eyesight isn't perfect?" or "Will they make me pay for the doctors?". The experts at Zvaryuvalnyk.xyz answer all your questions.

Which doctors does a welder need to see?

Since welding involves strain on the eyes, respiratory tract, and often requires working at heights of over 3 meters, a standard medical exam includes:

Ophthalmologist: Checks visual acuity. Important: Imperfect vision is not a dealbreaker! If you wear glasses or contacts and see well with them, the doctor will simply note on your certificate that you must work with glasses (or use a welding helmet with diopter lenses).

Spirometry: Tests lung capacity. Since welding produces fumes, the doctor must ensure you don't have any serious respiratory pathologies.

Neurologist and Psychotests (Badania wysokościowe): If the factory involves working on scaffolding (above 3 meters), you will be tested for balance, reaction time, and a lack of fear of heights.

Occupational Medicine Doctor: The final stage. This doctor reviews the reports from previous specialists, measures your blood pressure, listens to your heart, and issues the final document — the Orzeczenie lekarskie.

Who pays for the medical exam?

Here lies the main secret that unscrupulous middlemen often keep quiet about. According to Article 229 of the Polish Labor Code (Kodeks Pracy), all costs for preventive medical examinations are borne exclusively by the employer!

If an agency demands that you transfer 150-200 PLN for a medical exam before you even leave your country, this is a direct violation of the law.

In practice, at reliable companies, it works like this: the employer gives you a "Referral for a medical exam" (Skierowanie na badania), you go to the specified clinic, see the doctors, and the clinic bills the factory directly. You pay nothing.

How long is the certificate valid?

Usually, the certificate is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years. But remember: it is tied to a specific employer and a specific position. If you quit and move to another factory, you will have to undergo the medical exam again (again, at the expense of the new employer).

At Zvaryuvalnyk.xyz, we ensure that your employment process is as comfortable and legal as possible. Our coordinators accompany workers to the clinic and assist with translation, and the employer covers all medical exam expenses. Leave a request, and we will find a reliable job for you!