Program Review

How effective is a site's Medical Surveillance Program? Could improvements be made?

A Medical Surveillance Program is not something employers simply create and then enforce: it must be regularly evaluated to ensure efficacy. Regular program evaluations, maintenance, and review of medical records help medical personnel, site officers, and other parties (like parent companies or agency managers) assess the medical surveillance program and the site's overall health and safety program.

At least annually, the appropriate person (the Site Safety Officer, the medical consultant, and/or management) should review the program and do the following:

• Determine that every accident or illness was promptly addressed and investigated. Employers should have determined the injury or illness cause and made appropriate changes in health and safety procedures.
• Evaluate how beneficial the specific medical testing was in determining potential site exposures
• Add or remove the determined medical tests, taking into consideration "current industrial hygiene and environmental data"
• Review potential exposures and Site Safety Plans. Decide if there is a need for additional testing.
• Review all emergency treatment procedures
• Update the lists of emergency contacts

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