Medical Surveillance Guide (Guide for Job-Related Examinations).

The recommendations presented herein contain guidelines for performing medical examinations on workers engaged in potentially health hazardous occupations. These guidelines are intended primarily to aid the occupational health physician and his staff in the development of an effective program of medical surveillance. Preplacement and periodic examinations will form the core of the surveillance program but it should be remembered that an examination in and of itself is of no benefit to the worker. Specific action, if indicated, must be taken with respect to the results. Depending on the nature of the medical findings, the actions might include modification of work conditions or habits, or transfer of an individual worker to another job. It is recognized that many physicians are unfamiliar with industrial operations and problems, therefore, job site visits to observe potential problem areas should be made by the physician accompanied by the safety officer, or ideally with an industrial hygienist. Often, an additional survey by a consultant industrial hygienist may be necessary to fully identify the extent of the potential health hazards. The information in this guide can then be adapted to a program which will provide maximum benefit for the continuing monitoring of employees health.