Medical Examinations for Crossing Guards - Pre-employment, Current Employees, and Physical Deficiency

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Maeve

Guidance outlines when medical examinations are required for crossing guards, covering pre-employment screening after a conditional offer and post-employment exams when physical standards are essential to job duties. It describes municipal policies for repeat testing, procedures when employees show signs of inability, and supervisor job safety observations. It also specifies clinical physical, vision, and hearing testing, qualification thresholds, possible specialist referral, and outcomes affecting reinstatement or termination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Pre-employment

Current Employees

Training or Physical Deficiency

Physical Examinations

Vision Standards and Recommended Tests

Peripheral Vision

Stereopsis

Color Vision

Visual Acuity

Medical Examinations for Crossing Guards Pre-employment In addition, after a conditional offer of employment is made, an employer may require a medical examination if everyone working in the same capacity is required to have a medical exam. Typical crossing guard shifts can range in duration from one-half hour to two hours or more. A guard must be capable of standing for the entire shift. Noticing and reacting to driver movements requires alertness and agility. A basic physical examination for prospective crossing guards should check mobility, blood pressure, vision, and hearing. Current Employees After employment, a medical examination may be required if the physical standards of the position are essential to fulfill the position's job duties. The municipality should develop a policy that requires medical exams to be repeated. This may include exams being completed annually or every two years. The municipality should develop a policy for medical exams when an employee shows signs that they cannot fulfill the tasks of the position. These signs need to be recognizable and documented. They may include an inability to stand for an entire shift, an inability to walk or walk without the assistance of a medical device, a lack of alertness, an inability to see vehicles approaching the crosswalk, etc. Qualified supervisors should conduct Job Safety Observations to ensure that the guard is physically and mentally capable of fulfilling the tasks of the position. If a supervisor observes or is advised of a potential deficiency that would jeopardize the safety of the children, parents, or self, they should be relieved of their duties until further notice. Training or Physical Deficiency • Was the deficiency due to a lack of mental awareness of the position's requirements? In this case, the employee should be re-trained and deployed while being observed by a qualified supervisor. If the guard shows they are capable and the deficiency has been corrected, they may be reinstated. A Job Safety Observation should be completed. Monitoring should continue on a scheduled basis to ensure competency. • Was the deficiency due to a medical concern? Advise the employee that they are being sent for a physical exam to determine their fitness for duty. Send the medical professional all Job Safety Observations and a copy of the job description. Obtain a copy of the evaluation. Conduct an assessment with the Chief of Police and the municipal attorney to determine a course of action that may include reinstatement or termination. Physical Examinations The physical examination, vision, and hearing tests should be conducted in a clinical setting by a physician with experience examining job applicants. To perform the functions of the crossing guard position, the applicant must be capable of standing for two hours or more at a time and be able to lift and hold in position a stop sign weighing approximately one pound while holding the opposite hand in an upright, raised position. The examining physician should be provided a job description listing the physical requirements for the position. If abnormalities or deficiencies are identified as a result of the physical examination, including vision and hearing tests, the candidate is not qualified for the position. As an option, candidates not meeting the standards can be referred to an appropriate specialist for further examination to determine their physical capacity to perform the duties of the position. If this option is pursued, the specialist must be provided with the results of the examination and the standards that are to be met. Until the specialist report is received, the candidate should not be permitted to serve as a crossing guard. If the specialist report confirms the earlier testing outcomes, the candidate is not qualified to serve as a crossing guard. The following vision and hearing standards are excerpted from the New Jersey Crossing Guard Report, Copyright ©2007 I/O Sol

FAQs

When can an employer require a medical examination for crossing guards?

After a conditional offer, an employer may require a medical examination if everyone in the same capacity must be examined. After employment, an exam may be required when physical standards are essential for job duties.

How should municipalities handle repeat medical exams for current employees?

Municipal policy should require that medical exams be repeated, such as annually or every two years.

What happens if a physical, vision, or hearing exam finds abnormalities or deficiencies?

The candidate is not qualified for the position. As an option, the candidate can be referred to a specialist for further examination, and should not serve until the specialist report is received.

Sep 18, 2026

Upload by Maeve