| A) Laboratory
Animal Occupational Health Program |
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Stanford University is committed to provide
a healthy and safe work environment. Per this commitment,
as well as to adhering to numerous Cal/OSHA regulations, the
University has developed a medical surveillance program. The
purpose of this website is to:
- What is medical surveillance?
Medical surveillance is the process of evaluating the health
of employees as it relates to their potential occupational
exposures to hazardous agents.
- What is involved with medical surveillance?
Generally, affected employees undergo a work history, a
medical history, and a medical examination by a licensed
physician; these elements are used to establish a baseline
of the employees’ health and then used to monitor their
future health as it relates to their potential occupational
exposures to hazardous agents.
- Which job classifications require medical surveillance?
Most job classifications do not require
medical surveillance. Please refer to the medical surveillance
matrices linked to this web site. If a particular job
classification is not listed, it may not have been evaluated
by the IH/Safety Program yet; please contact EH&S @
5-3209 for assistance or questions.
- How is the need for medical surveillance determined?
EH&S’s Industrial Hygiene/Safety Program has evaluated
the medical surveillance needs of numerous job classifications
throughout the University. Employees’ inclusion in
the medical surveillance program was based on Industrial
Hygiene/Safety surveys in which exposures to various stressors
were evaluated, Cal/OSHA regulations, and consensus standards.
- How are medical surveillance exam appointments scheduled?
The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) Occupational Health
Department is the University’s contracted medical care
provider. Please refer to the Instructions to Supervisors
and Employees for Obtaining an Occupational Physical Exam
linked to this web site.
- What protocols will be administered?
Stanford University has protocols for medical testing and
examination for the following stressors:
- Animal Care
- DOT Driving
- Emergency Response/HazMat Operations
- General Medical
- Hearing Conservation/Noise
- Laser
Use, Class III or IV
- Manual Lifting
- Pesticide Application
- Respirator Use
- Use of Cal/OSHA
Regulated Carcinogens
- What forms will employees need to complete?
Forms that accompany the protocols have been developed.
Certain forms are to be completed by the employee, and other
forms by the doctor.
- Stanford University’s Department of Environmental
Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene/Safety Program
Ling Sue Teng, Manager – Industrial Hygiene/Safety
Program
Phone: 725-3209,
E-mail: lsteng@leland.stanford.edu
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- Who pays for the medical examinations?
- The employer is responsible for bearing the cost of medical
surveillance. Please check with your department about billing.
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- What do I do if employees wish to decline their medical
surveillance?
- Have the employee contact the IH/Safety Program @ 5-3209
so that the employee can speak with EH&S about the benefits
of medical surveillance.
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- What do I do if my employee wants to be evaluated by someone
other than the University’s Medical Care Provider?
- Contact the IH/Safety Program @ 5-3209 to discuss the
possibility of the employee being evaluated elsewhere. The
University would need to ensure that the employee is receiving
an equivalent medical evaluation as would be given by the
Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
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- Are the medical examination and test results confidential?
- Yes, specific results of the medical examination (e.g.,
weight, blood pressure, etc.) are kept confidential. However,
the medical clearance the University receives will indicate
the general conclusions of the doctor (e.g., (a) employee
is fit for duty; (b) employee is cleared for respirator
use; etc.).
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- How often will my employee need medical surveillance?
- The frequency of the medical examinations is generally
annual. However, consult the medical surveillance requirements
for each job classification which are linked to this web
site.
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- How much do the medical examinations cost?
- Call the Palo Alto Medical Foundation at 853-2970 for
the latest costs for the medical examinations.
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- What should I do if the operations in my work area change?
- Please contact the IH/Safety Program @ 5-3209 to inform
EH&S whenever there are any of the following changes:
(a) change in exposure times; (b) new operation is performed:
(c) new types of equipment are used; (d) an increase in
major chemical use; (e) a change in exiting engineering
controls. These changes can affect the employees’ potential
occupational exposures and hence potential need for medical
surveillance.
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- How does medical surveillance differ from an incident
where my employee becomes injured or ill while working,
or is exposed to a chemical via a spill, etc.?
- Medical surveillance is a non-emergency process which
is used to establish and monitor the employee’s health
as it relates to his/her potential occupational exposures
to hazardous agents. It should not be confused with medical
treatment in follow-up to an injury, illness, or chemical
spill on the job. Emergency or acute incidents will be evaluated
on immediate basis by doctors either at the Stanford Hospital
emergency room or at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, depending
on the severity of the incident. For more information on
reporting an emergency injury, illness, or chemical spill
exposure, please link to Emergency
Preparedness.
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- I’m planning to become pregnant and have concerns
about the chemicals in my workplace, what should I do?
- The IH/Safety Program provides occupational reproductive
hazard consultation on a case by case basis. Contact 5-3209
for assistance.
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