# Presentation: 540325

## USDA - ARS  Occupational Medical Surveillance Program

*Medical Surveillance Issues*
*OMSP - Changes & Improvements*
*Selected Findings*
*Ensuring Program Success*

## Medical Surveillance

*Purposes*
*establish baselines*
*meet regulatory requirements*
*secondary prevention strategy*
*assess efficacy of existing controls*
*identify problems and determine what changes may be necessary*

## Purpose of OMSP Program

*Individuals who work with, or are in the vicinity of, qualifying hazards*
*Establish baseline health status *
*Identify harmful effects*
*Determine unusual susceptibility to exposures*
*Establish trends over time*

## Medical Surveillance Is-

*Based Upon Job Activity*
*Based Upon Workplace Exposure Potential*
*a Cooperative effort among Management, Employees and Health Professionals*

## Medical Surveillance Program Flow Chart

## “....But my employees are not over-exposed....”

*Most Standards NOT based on human experience*
*one-third ACGIH criteria based on human experience*
*only 58% of these had quantitative data*
*of human studies in industry, only 8 had >200 participants*
*Meant to protect *_*most*_* workers*

## Medical Surveillance Is Not-

*a substitute for sound hygienic practices*
*to be confused with employee wellness programs or primary health care *
*a ‘Problem Employee’ evaluation*

## Success Depends Upon-

*Full employee participation*
*Standardized Testing*
*Standard Interpretation of Tests*
*Full understanding of job activities*
*Good communication between Safety Office, Human Resources and Medical Team*

## Accomplishments FY97-00

*Set Up Relational Database*
*Summary of Findings and Recommendations to Improve OHMP *
*Met with Area Safety Managers (12/98) *
*Revised ALL USDA-ARS Forms*
*Exposure Form Streamlined*
*Baseline History Form Expanded on Cancer and Reproductive History*
*Developed Interval History Form 182C(2)*

## Cancer & Reproductive History

## Link to IH Data		

## Accomplishments FY97-00

*Initiated Interagency *
*  **Agreement with Plum Island*
*Revised P&P*
*Issued ARS 182 Forms*
*distributed in INFORMS*
*also available in PDF (Acrobat) Format*
*Developed Electronic Matrix *
*Beta tested Spring, 2000*

## Revised Medical Matrix

*Available on CD-ROM or Hard Copy*
*Incorporates over 3600 Hazards*
*chemical, physical and biological*
*Electronic Matrix in Microsoft Access*
*Prints Individualized ARS 182A/B Forms*
*Prints Lists of Recommended Tests and Instructions to Examiner**	** *

## Medical Matrix - OMSP

**Medical Matrix - OMSP**
**182 B Exposure Form**

## Slide 15

## Status of ARS Database

*Physically over 9.5 MB data*
*Over 8000 exams entered*
*Variety of Reports available*
*Occupational Diagnoses*
*Exposure Reporting by Classification*
*Trend Analyses*
*CQI Reports (Exam and Letter Turn-around)*

## Occupational Findings FY 97-00

**Occupational Findings FY 97-00**

## Selected Hazards Reported - FY 1997 to 2000

**Selected Hazards Reported - FY 1997 to 2000**

## Selected Hazards Reported - FY 1997 to 2000

**Selected Hazards Reported - FY 1997 to 2000**

## Ability to Track Trends	

## Lung Volumes:  Trend Analysis 1986 - 1999 

**Lung Volumes:  Trend Analysis 1986 - 1999 **

## Peak Flow Analysis: Pre- and Post-Exposure Season

**Peak Flow Analysis: Pre- and Post-Exposure Season**

## Turn Around Time - Exams Received  Letter Sent

**Turn Around Time - Exams Received ******** Letter Sent**

## Success of OMSP Depends Upon

*Success of OMSP Depends Upon*

*Full Participation of Eligible Employees*
*Standardization of Program Elements*
*Adequate Turn-Around Times*
*Trend Analyses of good quality data*
*Communication Among ARS Staff, Safety Office and Medical Review Team*

## Slide 25