Occupational medicine: what is the information and prevention visit (Vip)?

Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Any newly recruited employee must benefit from a information and prevention visit (Vip). It is carried out by a health professional from the prevention and occupational health service (occupational doctor, nurse in particular). The Vip must be organized within 3 months from the effective taking of office of the employee. This visit must, in certain cases, be carried out before the employee is assigned to his or her work station. We're taking a look at the regulations.

The information and prevention visit aims to:

  • Ask the employee about his state of health
  • Inform the employee about the risks related to the job
  • Raise employee awareness of the prevention measures to be implemented
  • Identify whether his health condition or the risks to which he is exposed require referral to the occupational physician
  • Inform the employee about the procedures for monitoring his health status by the service and about his right to benefit, at any time, of a visit at his request with the occupational physician.

The occupational physician may request further examinations. They are the responsibility of the employer.

An occupational health record is open.

The occupational physician has no right to transmit to the employer medical information concerning the employee.

Please note

Under certain conditions, a newly recruited employee may be exempt from the Vip.

The Vip: titleContent concerns all employees working in private companies, Epic: titleContent and the Epa: titleContent employing private law personnel.

Employees of the individual employer and childminders benefit also Vip, but in special conditions.

Please note

Employees exposed to particular risks to their health (asbestos, ionizing radiation for example) or safety or those of their colleagues benefit from a enhanced individual monitoring (IRS) of his health.

The Vip: titleContent is carried out within a maximum period of 3 months from the actual taking of the workstation.

For a night worker, an employee or an apprentice of under 18, the visit is carried out prior to assignment.

For a apprentice major, the visit must take place within 2 months who follow the hiring.

Medical examinations are carried out on working time and the remuneration is maintained.

When these examinations cannot take place during working hours, they are paid as actual working time.

Time and transport costs necessitated by these visits are covered by the employer.

Example :

The employee is a night worker, so the visit cannot take place during his working time. He does it during the day, it takes him 1 hour round trip to get there, and the visit lasts 45 minutes.

The employer must pay the employee 1h45 of salary in addition to his usual remuneration.

No, there Vip: titleContent is a medical examination that is performed by a occupational health professional (for example, an occupational physician collaborator, an occupational medicine intern, a nurse) if the employee does not present any particular risks.

At the end of the Vip, the health professional can, if he deems it necessary, refer the worker to the occupational doctor.

If the employee is recognized disabled worker or perceives a invalidity pension where is night worker, the Vip is made by the occupational physician in a prevention and occupational health service.

At the end of each Vip: titleContent, the occupational physician or the health professional shall issue a follow-up certificate to the employee and the employer.

It specifies the date on which the visit was carried out and before which date the employee will benefit from his next Vip.

It is kept in the employee's occupational health medical record.

Please note

If an incapacity is found, the doctor may issue a notice ofunfitness.

The employee makes a new visit within a maximum period of 5 years from 1re visit.

This deadline is set by the occupational physician.

If the employee is recognized as a disabled worker or as a pensioner or as a night worker, the maximum period is 3 years.

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