Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State

Hazardous Waste Operations Chapter 296-843, WAC

Effective Date: 05/01/04

Medical Surveillance WAC 296-843-210

For printing

Your responsibility:

To provide medical surveillance for employees that work in hazardous waste operations

You must

Provide medical surveillance for your employees

WAC 296-843-21005

WAC 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 30 days a year, at or above the permissible exposure limits (PELs) or other published exposure levels
  • – Wear a respirator for at least 30 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 30 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

If a worker	Then provide an examination
Is assigned to work that is covered by this chapter	Before work assignment begins
Continues to work in hazardous waste operations	At least once every 12 months, unless the attending physician decides a different interval, up to 24 months or less than 12 months, is appropriate
Needs to be examined more frequently based on the examining physician’s medical judgment	At intervals less than 12 months
Is reassigned to an area where their work isn’t covered or Employment is terminated	As soon as possible, unless he or she was examined within the past 6 months
Has an incident that results in injury or illness or Develops signs or symptoms of possible overexposure to hazardous substances and health hazards or Has been exposed above the permissible exposure limits or published exposure levels	As soon as possible
Requires follow-up examinations or consultations because of medical necessity for an exposure incident or injury	When determined by the examining physician

 

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.atsdr.cdc.gov/hazardouswastesites.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 aren’t 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.