10 - Medical Monitoring Program

Abstract

This chapter presents general guidelines for a medical program for personnel at hazardous waste sites. Medical programs are essential for assessing and monitoring workers' health and fitness prior to employment and during the course of work, to provide emergency and other treatment as needed, and to keep accurate records for future reference. Medical monitoring should be used only as a backup to other controls. Each site requires a unique medical monitoring program based on its specific needs, location, and potential exposures. The program should be designed by the site health and safety officer in conjunction with an experienced occupational physician or a qualified occupational health consultant. The ideal director for a site's medical program would be a board-certified occupational medicine physician or a doctor who has had extensive experience managing occupational health services. A hazardous waste site medical monitoring program is designed primarily for field workers who are exposed to toxic substances on a regular basis. Periodic medical monitoring examinations need to be developed, and provisions for emergency treatment and acute nonemergency treatment should be made at each site. Workers should also be informed about their exposures. Medical testing is important to help them take appropriate precautions.