HAZWOPER: Medical Surveillance
Course Description:
Today, we’re going to talk about the medical surveillance program required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s, or OSHA’s, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard, known as HAZWOPER. You can find the HAZWOPER requirements for medical surveillance in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR 1910.120(f). When OSHA developed this regulation, it realized that handling hazardous waste is a difficult job that may expose you to many hazards, among them toxic chemicals, safety hazards, biological hazards, and radiation. Therefore, OSHA decided that a medical surveillance program was essential to assess and monitor your health and fitness both before employment and during the course of work, and to provide you and your coworkers with emergency and other medical treatment as needed.
Why “HAZWOPER: Medical Surveillance” Matters:
The main purpose of the HAZWOPER medical surveillance program is to make sure your are fit for duty working in hazardous waste operations and remain healthy. It establishes your state of health when you are first assigned to hazardous waste duties so that doctors can monitor your health through the years and identify any changes that might signal health problems or a developing disease.
Key Points:
- Working with hazardous wastes increases your risk of harmful exposures.
- HAZWOPER’s medical surveillance program is designed to ensure early diagnoses and treatment of work-related health problems.
- Report any symptoms of exposure to your supervisor right away.
- Cooperate with your employer and healthcare professionals regarding medical exams, screening, and testing.
