Workplace Medical Surveillance
Medical surveillance is the systematic assessment of employees exposed or potentially exposed to occupational hazards. This assessment monitors individuals for adverse health effects and determines the effectiveness of exposure prevention strategies.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory agencies, have identified hazards and established guidelines for optimizing workplace health and avoiding detrimental impact to employees from the workplace environment.
LVHN Occupational Medicine locations have the ability to provide federally mandated surveillance testing and examination for those exposed to specified substances and environments. Surveillance takes the form of a pre-placement or baseline test (or tests) and/or physical exams establishing an employee’s status or levels at the start of employment and/or of the surveillance program.
Federal regulations require specific protocols as well as a schedule for regular testing and/or exam to measure against the baseline and indicate if the employee progresses over time to unhealthy status.
A partial list of exposures requiring medical surveillance per federal regulation includes:
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Beryllium
- Chromium
- Cotton dust
- Diesel exhaust
- Lead
- Noise
In addition to those mandated for surveillance testing, there are over 40 other chemicals and other substances identified that can cause adverse health effects over prolonged exposure. A medical surveillance program can be created for each of those as well and performed at any LVHN Occupational Medicine location.