Section 296-843-21005. Provide medical surveillance for your employees.

You must:

• Establish a medical surveillance plan for all employees who meet any of the following:

– Are or may be exposed to hazardous substances or health hazards for at least thirty days a year, at or above the permissible exposure limits (PELs) or other published exposure levels.

– Wear a respirator for at least thirty days a year.

– Are injured, become ill, or develop signs or symptoms of possible overexposure to hazardous substances or health hazards.

– Are hazardous materials team (HAZMAT) members.

Reference:	Employees who use respirators less than thirty days a year are required to have a respirator medical evaluation as outlined by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators. Completion of a medical examination required by this section will meet the requirement for a respirator medical evaluation.

You must:

• Make sure medical examinations, consultations, and procedures are:

– Scheduled according to Table 4, Medical Examination Schedule.

– Performed or supervised by a licensed physician.

– Available:

■ At a reasonable time and place.

■ Without loss of pay.

■ Without cost to employees.

Note:	Examples of costs include: Mileage, gas, bus fare, and time spent outside normal work hours.

Table 4

Medical Examination Schedule

You must:

• Make sure the medical examination includes the following information for each affected employee:

– A medical and work history, with special emphasis on symptoms related to handling hazardous substances and health hazards.

– Information about fitness for duty including the ability to wear any personal protective equipment (PPE) under conditions that may be expected at the workplace.

– Any additional information that is determined by the examining physician.

Note:	The physician should consult the NIOSH Occupational Safety and Health Guidance Manual for Hazardous Waste Site Activities http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/85-115.html.

You must:

• Provide complete information to the examining physician, including:

– A copy of WAC 296-843-210.

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

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

– The actual or anticipated hazardous substance exposure levels for the employee.

– A description of the PPE the employee uses or could use.

– Information available from previous medical examinations.

– Instruction to the physician that the physician's written opinion NOT include specific findings or diagnoses that are not related to occupational exposures.

Note:	You are NOT required to send duplicate information to the physician for each employee.

You must:

• Obtain the physician's written medical opinion that includes the following information:

– Whether medical conditions were found that would increase the employee's risk for impairment during emergency response work or respirator use.

– Limitations of the employee's assigned work, if any.

– Examination and test results, if the employee requests this information.

– A statement that the employee has been confidentially informed of medical examination results (including medical conditions requiring followup required by WAC 296-843-210).

• Provide the employee with a copy of the physician evaluation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 04-02-053, § 296-843-21005, filed 1/5/04, effective 5/1/04.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 04-02-053, § 296-843-21005, filed 1/5/04, effective 5/1/04.

Rules

296-842,296-843-210,296-842,296-843-210,