Elements of Medical Surveillance Program Determination
Occupational Exposure Assessment. An occupational exposure assessment includes:
A. Basic Exposure Characterization (qualitative assessment).
B. Department of the Interior (Department) Occupational Medicine Program Handbook Employee Questionnaire. Employees fill out questionnaires on workplace exposure history [found in the Department’s Occupational Medicine Program Handbook, Tab 12, Attachments D2 (b) and (c)].
C. Workplace Exposure Monitoring (quantitative assessment). Air sampling is performed to determine airborne levels of various chemical and biological contaminants. Depending on the results, additional periodic exposure monitoring may be warranted.
D. Frequency of Monitoring. If there are already regulatory or consensus standards for the materials being monitored, industrial hygienist(s) or other safety professionals use their professional judgment to determine how often monitoring should take place.
E. Assessment Recommendations. The industrial hygienist(s) or other safety professional provides:
(1) Recommendations to the Project Leader/Supervisor/Facility Manager about which employee(s) should be in a medical surveillance program and what type of workplace controls are necessary.
(2) Supporting data and recommendations to the Project Leader/Supervisor/Facility Manager and JAO Safety Manager/Specialist/Industrial Hygienist regarding ways to eliminate or minimize worker occupational exposures.
Medical Surveillance. An Occupational Health Physician or a doctor trained in occupational health:
A. Provides a schedule of employee physical examinations to Project Leaders/Supervisors/Facility Managers;
B. Examines employees based on real or expected workplace hazards using medical and occupational histories and clinical and biological screening tests;
C. Determines employees’ ability to wear respiratory protection (242 FW 14) or other personal protective equipment (241 FW 3); and
D. Uses workplace sampling results, if available, to determine the appropriate type and frequency of medical surveillance for workers.
Workplace Re-evaluation. When workplace activities warrant implementation of a medical surveillance program, the Project Leader/Supervisor/Facility Manager and occupational safety professionals must consider the changes in the activity and re-evaluate the exposure potential. For example, at National Fish Hatchery B, exposures to formaldehyde exceed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s permissible exposure limit. The Facility Manager initiates medical surveillance and implements changes to work practices. The Facility Manager must also establish procedures for the re-evaluation and notify the appropriate JAO Safety Manager/Specialist/Industrial Hygienist about the need for it.