ERHMS

CommunicationsofExposureandHealthMonitoringandSurveillance 

DataDuring an Emergency Response

Purpose

The collection of environmental exposure data and individual health and safety monitoring data, along with aggregate 

surveillance data are relevant to protecting all the responders involved in an event, both in the short-term and long-term, 

but it is not an end unto itself. This information must be communicated to workers, intra-organizationally, inter-organizationally, and within and outside the Incident Command Structure.

Principles of Communication to “Workers”

• Data use disclosure forms:

o Explains what is being done, what the data will

be used for, how data will be protected, and 

contact information.

• Consent forms.

• Personal exposure or monitoring results.

Principles of Intra-agency/Organizational 

Communication

Guidance on the need to communicate information about 

environmental sampling, exposures monitoring, and 

tracking of injuries and illnesses should include common 

elements:

• Disseminate timely, accurate information to 

personnel involved in the response effort.

• Use meetings, phone calls, or intranet to share 

information on a periodic/ real-time basis.

• Designate a safety and health officer who will 

communicate this information.

• Develop and distribute a contact list for all 

personnel.

• Include provisions to disseminate information 

rapidly.

• Develop an EmergencyCommunications Plan.

Principles of Inter-Agency Communication

• Send a unifiedmessage.

• Write clearly and avoid any internal jargon or 

acronyms.

• Keepinformationorganizedandsecure.

• Meet deadlines.

Principles of Public/Media Communication

• Determinemedianeeds andcoordinatewith 

media representative.

• Answer media questions and calls.

• Refer media to other contacts/information.

• Direct media to staging area.

• Escort media to scene if appropriate.

• Document media calls.

Briefing the media and answering media inquiries
ERHMS

Communications Within the Incident Command System:

Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance

The Emergency ResponderHealth Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS)systemis a healthmonitoring and surveillance 

framework that includes recommendations and tools specific to protect emergency responders during the pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment phases of adisaster.The intent of ERHMS isto identify exposures and/orsigns 

and symptoms early in the course of an emergency response in orderto prevent ormitigate adverse physical and psychological outcomes and ensure workersmaintain their ability to respond effectively and are not harmed in the course ofthis 

response work. Data will also help to identify during the post-deployment phase which responders would benefit from 

medicalreferral and possible enrollmentin a long-termhealth surveillance program. Please referto Chapter 8 and section 

8T formore information on Communications of Exposure andHealth Monitoring and Surveillance Data During an EmergencyResponse.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ERHMS Contact:

 erhmsonline@cdc.gov

For more information on ERHMS, please visit:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/erhms