Examinations and Consultations

The OSHA Laboratory Standard does not mandate medical surveillance for all laboratory workers. The employer must provide workers an opportunity for medical attention. This includes follow-up examinations and treatment recommended by an examining physician when an employee exhibits signs or symptoms associated with exposure to a hazardous chemical or the worker is routinely exposed above the action level or PEL for a regulated substance. Offer medical consultation to any employee potentially exposed through a spill, leak, or explosion of a hazardous chemical or substance. Employers must provide information about the hazardous chemical, conditions under which the exposure occurred, and a description of symptoms experienced by the woiker. Employers must obtain from a treating physician any written opinion requiring follow-up examinations or medical tests. 

---

Experts should conduct their examinations and consultations and render objective opinions regardless of who is paying their fee. Experts are only concerned with establishing the truth and are not advocates. Forensic Examiners, whether they work for the government or in the private sector, should be free from any pressure in making their opinion. 

All medical examinations and consultations shall be performed by or under the direct supervision of a hcensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. ... 

A full medical examination and consultation shall be made available to an employee... 

Medical examinations and consultations— (i) Frequency. The employer shall make available medical examinations and consultations to each employee covered under paragraph (j)(1)(ii) of this section on the following schedule ... 

B) The employer shall instruct each examining and consulting physician to ... 

The employer must provide examining and consulting physicians with the following specific information a copy of the lead regulations and all appendices, a description of the employee s duties as related to exposure, the exposure level or anticipated level to lead and any other toxic substances (if applicable), a description of personal protective equipment used, blood lead levels, and all prior written medical opinions regarding the employee in the employer s possession or control. The employer must also obtain from the physician and provide the employee with a written medical opinion containing blood lead levels, the physicians s opinion as to whether the employee is at risk of material impairment to health, any recommended protective measures for the employee if further exposure is permitted, as well as any recommended limitations upon an employee s use of respirators. 

Content of medical examinations and consultations, (i) Medical examinations required by paragraph (f)(3) of this section shall include a medical and work history (or updated... 

The employer shall instruct each examining and consulting physician to not reveal either in the written opinion or orally, or in any other means of communication with the employer, findings, including laboratory results, or diagnoses unrelated to an employee s occupational exposure to lead. 

---