Section 296-824-40005. Provide medical surveillance to employees.

You must:

(1) Provide medical surveillance for employees to comply with Tables 7 and 8, and the following:

• Make medical surveillance available at:

– Reasonable times and places.

– No cost to employees, including travel associated costs such as mileage, gas or bus fare if the employee is required to travel off site

AND

– Wages for additional time spent outside of employees normal work hours.

• Make sure a licensed physician performs or supervises exams and procedures.

• Give complete information to the examining physician including:

– A copy of this chapter.

– A description of the employee's duties that relate to hazardous substance exposure.

– The hazardous substance exposure levels anticipated for the employee.

– A description of the personal protective equipment (PPE) the employee could use.

– Information available from previous medical examinations.

– The medical evaluation information required by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators.

• Medical exams must include, at a minimum:

– A medical history

– A work history (or updated history if on file)

– A special emphasis on:

■ Assessment of symptoms related to handling hazardous substances

■ Health hazards

■ Evaluation of fitness for duty (including the ability to wear any personal protective equipment (PPE) or other conditions that may be expected at the workplace)

– Other content as determined by the examining physician.

Note:	The physician should consult the Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for Hazardous Waste Site Activities and the Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposure (search OSHA web site: http://www.osha.gov).

(2) Obtain the physician's written opinion and give a copy to the employee that includes:

• A statement of whether or not medical conditions were found which would increase the employee's risk for impairment during emergency response work or respirator use.

– Do not include specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposures.

• Limitations recommended to the employee's assigned work, if any.

• Exam and test results if the employee requests this information.

• A statement that affirms the employee has been confidentially informed of medical exam results (including medical conditions requiring follow-up).

*Note:	A medical evaluation for respirator use is required by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, for those employees who have not been cleared for respirator use during medical surveillance activities.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 05-03-093, § 296-824-40005, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05; WSR 02-20-034, § 296-824-40005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 05-03-093, § 296-824-40005, filed 1/18/05, effective 3/1/05; WSR 02-20-034, § 296-824-40005, filed 9/24/02, effective 10/1/02.

Rules

296-842,296-842,