Medical surveillance hazard communication

Further, this standard provides for methods of compliance, personal protective equipment, adequate communication of benzene hazards to employees, regulated areas, and medical surveillance of workers who are or may be exposed to benzene. Any employee routinely exposed to benzene should, in addition to wearing protective equipment, receive periodic blood tests. 

Several inventory and tracking systems, often using bar code scanners and computer databases, are used throughout the complex. The databases typically include locations, amounts, uses, hazards, and custodians. Regardless of the inventory and tracking software used, it is important to integrate this software with other computerized environment, safety, and health systems, such as Hazard Communication, waste disposal, medical surveillance, and MSDS systems, at a particular site. 

Originally, the principal audience for MSDSs comprised health and safety professionals (who are responsible for formulating safe workplace practices), medical personnel (who direct medical surveillance programs and treat exposed workers), and emergency responders (e.g., fire department personnel). With the promulgation of federal laws such as the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450), the audience for MSDSs has been expanded to include laboratory workers in industrial and academic laboratories. However, not all MSDSs are written to meet the requirements of this new audience effectively. 

Health outcome data and parameters are the third major source of data for health assessments. The identification, review, and evaluation of health outcome parameters are interactive processes involving ATSDR, data source generators, and the community involved. Health outcome data are community-specific and may include databases at the local, state, and national level, as well as data from private health care organizations and professional institutions and associations. Databases to be considered include medical records, morbidity and mortality data, tumor and disease registries, birth statistics, and surveillance data. Relevant health outcome data play an important role in assessing the public health implications associated with a hazardous waste site and in determining which follow-up health activities are needed. 

---