You are here: Home Employee Health Testing FAQ Does PIPEDA apply to employee health information ?

The federal privacy law known as PIPEDA (Personal Information Privacy and Electronic Documents Act) was designed to protect consumer data, and does not apply to data that is part of the employer-employee relationship, expect for federally regulated businesses. However, the act recognizes that organizations need to collect, use, and disclose personal information for appropriatepurposes. As such, PIPEDA does not prevent employers from sharing data such as employee numbers and birthdates with medical service providers -- because that data is essential in order to properly conduct the health tests and evaluate the resulting data.

Why? Because medical results are often geared to age, gender and race: we expect different results from a 60-year male than from a 20-year old female.

When conducting Pre-placement medicals or Designated Substance medicals, Occu-Med often asks employers for employee information that includes a Birthdate, gender, and a Unique Identifying Number (clock #, payroll #, etc.). This information is used to identify a specific individual and ensure that test results are always tracked to the correct person. Our Confidentiality Policy on Employee Health records explains more.

PIPEDA Guidelines Excerpt

The Act applies to employee information only in organizations that are engaged in federal works, undertakings or businesses. The extension of the Act's scope in 2004 does not change that...
...The Act recognizes two fundamental points: individuals have a right to privacy with respect to their personal information, and organizations need to collect, use, and disclose personal information for appropriate purposes. Compliance with the Act requires that these two realities mesh.

Additional information can be accessed at the office of the Federal Privacy Commisioner here:

A fact sheet on Privacy Legislation in Canada can be found here:

Employees & Employers alike are welcome to contact us to discuss any concerns about privacy as it relates to the conduct of Occupational Health Testing, including our per-placement and periodic medicals.

You are here: Home Employee Health Testing FAQ Does PIPEDA apply to employee health information ?

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