X

Consumer Privacy Notice

Visit the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Privacy Policy and St. Elizabeth Physician's Privacy Policy for details regarding the categories of personal information collected through St. Elizabeth website properties and the organizational purpose(s) for which the information will be used to improve your digital consumer/patient experience. We do not sell or rent personally-identifying information collected.

HEADER-SM-SEH-2016-0770

OSHA Compliance Medical Surveillance

Your best defense against workers’ compensation claims related to work hazards is to have a comprehensive annual or periodic medical surveillance program in place. We can assist you in avoiding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for failure to meet mandatory surveillance testing. Business Health can also customize programs specifically to meet OSHA’s medical surveillance criteria for hazards in your work place.

Audiometric Testing

Audiometric testing is an evaluation of an employee's ability to hear. It is required by the OSHA Occupational Noise Exposure standard, 1910.95 for all employees who work in an environment where their 8 hour time weighted average is greater than 85 dBA. Audiograms are performed by Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationists trained by CAOHC (Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation). Business Health can coordinate audiometric screenings at one of our clinics or at your work site.  

Hepatitis B Vaccine

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that employers offer the hepatitis B vaccination series to any employee who is reasonably anticipated to have exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The offer must be made within 10 days of employment and at no cost to the employee. If the employee declines, then the signed declination form must be in the record.

Respirator Program

Many workplace situations involve toxic substances for which engineering controls may be inadequate to control exposures. Respirators are used in these situations as a back-up method of protection. There are two major classes of respirators: 1. air-purifying to remove contaminants from the air, and 2. atmosphere-supplying to provide clean, breathable air from an uncontaminated source.

Business Health has trained staff to provide the Medical Evaluations and Respirator Fit Testing in compliance with OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.134. OSHA respirator standard requires that employers establish and maintain an effective respiratory program and that employees are responsible for wearing the respirator and complying with the program. This article reviews the major requirements of OSHA's standard on respiratory protection, as revised in 1998.

Business Health has developed easy to follow recommendations based on the requirements outlined by OSHA.

Suggested Guidelines for Medical Clearance of Respirator Users Test

TEST REQUIRED RECOMMENDED
Questionnaire Annually (Reviewed by Medical Personnel) Annually
Fit Testing At least annually by a Certified Fit Tester Annually and if significant weight change or change in facial contours
Physical If answers yes to any questions 1-8, at Physician discretion or if trouble with respirator Baseline and per regulation
PFT At Physician discretion Baseline and every two years for smokers; five years for nonsmokers or if respiratory symptoms
Chest X-Ray At Physician discretion Baseline then every five years for smokers, others if symptoms
Other tests At Physician discretion As indicated by history or exam

 

In 2011, OSHA published the revised version of the Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910 and 1926. The revision was intended to simplify the requirements for employers administering their respirator programs. As part of this law, medical screening was streamlined. At Business Health, we have reviewed the standard to compile this summary of the law requirements and our recommendations concerning the Mandatory Questionnaire, Physicals, Pulmonary Function Testing, Fit Testing, Chest x-rays and other screening.