Medical Surveillance

The term "medical surveillance" refers to the analysis of worker health information to look for problems in the workplace that may require targeted prevention. Thus, surveillance serves as a feedback loop to the employer. Cal/OSHA requires medical surveillance, sometimes in the form of pre-placement exams, periodic exams, exposure tests, x-rays, and more, for employees who use or are exposed to certain chemicals, such as asbestos, lead, cadmium, and benzene.

Employers should make a medical surveillance program available for the following types of employees:

• Employees who are or may be exposed to benzene at or higher than the action level 30 or more days per year
• Employees who are or may be exposed to benzene at or higher than the PEL, the STEL, or both, 10 or more days per year
• Employees who were exposed to more than 10 ppm of benzene for 30 or more days in any year prior to December 10, 1989, while employed by their current employer
• Tire-building machine operators who use solvents that are more than 0.1 percent benzene

The employer is responsible for making sure that the employee is evaluated by a licensed physician who is specifically knowledgeable about the health effects of benzene exposure. The employer must also pay for all costs associated with these evaluations, including reviews by multiple physicians. Employers are responsible for providing these services at a time and place that is convenient to their employees.

To learn more about Benzene Safety visit our Cal/OSHA Benzene Safety Online Training web page.