However, OSHA's medical surveillance requirements generally have a clinical focus (for example, medical surveillance, as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), is a program of medical examinations and tests designed to detect and monitor potential health effects resulting from hazardous physical or chemical exposure in the workplace to allow for early treatment or other measures to protect the health of employees. Medical surveillance is carried out in conjunction with other employer measures, such as work practices and engineering controls, to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. U.S. employees use tens of thousands of chemicals every day, including those at the Remote Surveillance Trailer in San Juan Capistrano CA.
While many of these chemicals are suspected of being harmful, there are relatively few regulated chemicals in the workplace. This has led to greater use of scarce natural resources, as well as manufactured materials and components. In turn, the perfect combination of these factors has meant that almost all industries use substances and materials that can cause harm to human health, from immediate repercussions to long-term illnesses. This has resulted in a greater emphasis on medical surveillance in the workplace and a greater focus on providing a safe work environment. Therefore, employers must evaluate employee exposure to chemicals, toxins, radioactive materials, and other hazardous substances on a planned and regular basis to counteract the increased rate of occupational diseases and improve industrial safety.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these evaluations are called medical surveillance. Employers are responsible for developing a comprehensive medical surveillance program to identify health risks, develop health and safety programs, and increase employee health and safety. OSHA requires that all costs of a medical surveillance program be borne by the employer. This program should cover four key areas.
Subsequently, employees must undergo regular medical examinations while working with toxic, radioactive, or other hazardous materials. These regular medical exams will identify any physical or health changes compared to pre-employment evaluation records or medical tests performed immediately before the ongoing medical checkup. If necessary, employees will undergo additional medical tests based on the results of the medical examination. A medical surveillance program should also cover treatment plans for workers in relation to the different hazards to which they may be exposed.
These treatment plans should consider both emergency and non-emergency treatments. A medical surveillance program includes methods for collecting, tracking, and analyzing employee health and safety data. These include a series of initial medical examinations and tests, as well as periodic follow-up and data collection for historical records, all of which are required by the OSHA. It is hoped that these emerging advances will increase the adoption and effectiveness of health surveillance programs, creating safer and more compliant work environments. Medical surveillance in the field of occupational health involves more than scheduling regular health checks for employees.
The Department of Defense (DoD) provides extensive guidance and resources that employers can use to develop and implement their medical surveillance programs. Before focusing on the medical surveillance, physical exams, and testing services you may need, there are four steps that help create a medical surveillance program. In addition, OSHA, pursuant to section 1910.120 (f) of the HAZWOPER, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard, provides guidance on medical surveillance requirements for HAZWOPER workers. Understanding what medical surveillance is, how it can have a positive impact on your workplace, and the ways in which third parties, such as Mobile Medical, can help implement these programs in the workplace can help you take steps to create an ideal work environment.
Keeping complete and accurate records of health evaluations and exposures is vital in medical surveillance. By carrying out regular medical surveillance and analyzing the results obtained, employers would be better able to identify work processes or areas of the workplace that can cause or may cause damage or injury to workers. Figures like these help explain why an effective medical surveillance program is vital for you and your business. OSHA provides extensive guidance to employers on how to identify hazards that negatively affect the safety and health of employees at work and the relevant levels of medical vigilance required.
In effect, medical surveillance acts as a feedback mechanism on employee health problems and workplace-related issues. OSHA recommends that employers provide medical surveillance to workers exposed to hazardous substances such as lead, asbestos, arsenic, bloodborne pathogens, radioactive materials and a variety of other materials, such as herbicides and insecticides, that endanger the health of workers in the workplace. Certain industries and occupations require medical surveillance because of the increased risk of exposure to hazardous substances or conditions. Concentra has been offering medical surveillance exams and other occupational health programs and services for more than 40 years.
