Pre-employment Screening - Determination of Fitness, Occupational and Medical History Review

During the Review of Occupational and Medical History, employers and physicians must do the following before, during, and after the exam:

• Make sure the worker fully completes an occupational and medical history questionnaire. (You will see an example of this later on.)
• Review the questionnaire before seeing the worker (to ensure it has been completed properly)
• Discuss the questionnaire with the worker. Place discussion emphasis on any prior occupational exposures to chemical and physical hazards and find more information about these instances.
• Review past illnesses and chronic diseases. Pay close attention to atopic diseases (diseases that show allergies or hypersensitivity). Examples of atopic diseases include eczema, asthma, lung diseases, and cardiovascular disease.
• Review all symptoms, paying close attention to shortness of breath or labored breathing on exertion
• Review other chronic respiratory symptoms (such as chest pain, high blood pressure, and heat intolerance)
• Note and record all "relevant lifestyle habits." (OSHA provides examples, including cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use, and hobbies.)

From the information gathered through this exam, employers should be able to identify individuals who are particularly vulnerable to certain substances. This should help them decide whether or not an employee is fit for working among the site's conditions.

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