Employee Exposure & Medical Records

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. 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 inorganic arsenic, lead, benzene, coke oven emissions, 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane (DBCP), acrylonitrile, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, methylenedianiline, and methylene chloride.

Under 29 CFR 1915.1020, employees with possible exposure to toxic substances have the right to access exposure records. All employee medical records and employee exposure records must be retained for at least the duration of the employee's employment plus 30 years. Background data related to environmental or workplace monitoring or measuring must be retained for one year.

To learn more about Shipyard Chemical Hazards visit our Shipyard Chemical Hazards & Toxic Substances Online Training web page.