Medical Surveillance
Medical surveillance is a series of medical services provided to employees based on exposure or potential exposure to hazards in the workplace. With the goal of reducing and ultimately preventing workplace illness and injury, medical surveillance may include review of occupational and medical history, physical exams, diagnostic and performance testing, and vaccinations.
Click on each EHS program area below for more specific information and requirements.
FAQs
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions regarding why I'm enrolled in a specific medical surveillance?
A: For general questions about medical surveillance enrollment and crediting, please contact the Medical Surveillance Program Manager. If you have questions on the specific medical surveillance program you're enrolled in, please contact the EHS program manager for that specific program. For example, you're enrolled in the Asbestos medical surveillance and think you shouldn't, please contact the Asbestos program manager. You can find all EHS program managers here.
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions on what medical evaluations do I need to take and what the evaluation entail?
A: You can contact Health Services anytime at clinic.lbl.gov or during business hours (0730 - 4pm) at 510-486-6266 if you have any medical-related questions including questions about medical exams.
Q: Why don't I get credit as soon as I complete the questionnaire/evaluations? When will I see the credit?
A: After a questionnaire or exam is completed, Health Services staff need to review the evaluation results or the questionnaire and provide a medical clearance which is required for crediting. Once a medical clearance is provided, the credit will show in your training profile (and WPC Activity if applicable) the next day.
Q: Why am I not enrolled after I'm added to a WPC Activity?
A: The WPC Activity needs to be active in order for medical surveillance enrollment to occur. Once the Activity is active, allow 24 hours before enrollment happens.
Q: How do I know if the medical surveillance evaluation I am enrolled in is mandatory or voluntary?
A: Click on the specific program you are interested in above to learn about requirements and whether it's voluntary or mandatory.
Q: What's the difference between voluntary and mandatory medical surveillance/evaluation?
A: Mandatory evaluations/certifications are required for performing your job or certain work activities. Failure to complete the exams or obtain medical clearance would result in being unauthorized to perform these work activities. Voluntary exams are offered to employees potentially exposed to certain occupational hazards and are completely voluntary to participate in. Declination of such medical exam does not affect employee's authorization to work.
Q: Can I decline a mandatory evaluation?
A: You should consult with your supervisor and Health Services before you do so. Mandatory evaluations are essential for performing specific work tasks. For example, medical evaluation for respirator use is a requirement before using a respirator so you can't perform the work activity that require use of a respirator if you decline the respirator medical evaluation.
Q. How do I decline a medical surveillance?
A: If you do decide to decline medical surveillance, go to clinic.lbl.gov, Message Center and select "Decline" under the medical in the Surveillance Evaluation Acceptance form.
Q: Can I request to be re-enrolled in medical surveillance if I chose to opt out previously?
A: Yes you can contact Health Services to get re-enrolled in voluntary medical surveillance even if you have declined participation previously.
Q: Where can I view the pending forms/questionnaires to complete?
A: Go to clinic.lbl.gov and click on the Message Center or the "bell" icon to access any pending forms or questionnaires to complete.
Q: Can a new employee receive medical surveillance before their Hire Date?
A: In general, medical surveillance enrollment happens after employee has joined the Lab.
Roles and Responsibilities
Employee enrolled in Medical Surveillance
Fulfills the medical exams assigned to them
Completes all applicable forms prior to the examination and observes the pre-exam instructions
Schedules the exam as soon as accepting the exam
Reports any overexposure or concerns to EHS
Reports any health condition changes to Health Services
Supervisor of employee enrolled
Ensures their employees fulfill the mandatory medical exams
Follows up with employees if there are mandatory exams due or have declined a mandatory exam
Determines employee's work authorization status based on the completion status of mandatory exams, and the results of mandatory medical exams
Determines employee's work authorization status if the employee declines a mandatory exam
EHS Program Manager
Determines medical surveillance enrollment criteria for the program they manage per Regulations
Provides expertise and support to employees and supervisor of employees enrolled in their program’s medical surveillance group
Conducts exposure assessments as needed
Medical Surveillance Program Manager
Contributes his or her expertise and supports the management and assurance of the Medical Surveillance Program
Health Services
Provides scheduling support for medical exams
Answers questions regarding medical exams
Physician or other licensed healthcare professionals (PLHCP) or Health Services Staff
Administers necessary medical exams and tests
Provides clearance for mandatory surveillance to employee and supervisor
WPC Activity Lead
Manages workers for the Activity as appropriate
Waives training for employees on the Activity who are not exposed to certain hazards
Changes the employee work authorization level per the employee's supervisor's direction
Work restrictions or if an employee fails to complete a mandatory exam
Ensures employee work authorization level is appropriate based on the status of their required training
EHS Programs/Areas Involving Medical Surveillance References
EHS Programs/Areas that have mandatory evaluations
Mandatory evaluations/certifications are required for performing your job or certain work activities. Failure to complete the exams or obtain medical clearance would result in being unauthorized to perform these work activities.
Respiratory Protection (ES&H Manual Chapter 44, Section 7 Work Process C)
Hearing Conservation/Noise (ES&H Manual Chapter 39, Section 7 Work Process E)
Commercial Driver (DOT Driver Medical Fitness for Duty)
Hazardous Waste Workers
Power Industrial Trucks (ES&H Manual Chapter 28, Section 7 Work Process C)
Vaccination for Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) for healthcare workers (Cal/OSHA §5199)
Vaccination for Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) in laboratory (ES&H Manual Chapter 26)
Flu and COVID vaccination (University of California Mandate)
Bloodborne Pathogen (Hep B Vaccination) (ES&H Manual Chapter 26 Work Process D)
Vaccination for other human pathogens in research (ES&H Manual Chapter 26)
EHS Programs/Areas that have voluntary evaluations
Voluntary exams are offered to employees potentially exposed to certain occupational hazards and are completely voluntary to participate in. Declination of such medical exam does not affect employee's authorization to work.
Silica (chapter 10)
Beryllium (ES&H Manual Chapter 38)
Engineered Nano Materials (ES&H Manual Chapter 45 Work Process S)