E. Employer Obligations The employer is required to provide the physician with the following information: A copy of this standard and appendices A, C, D, and E; a description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to his or her exposure concentration; an estimate of the employee's exposure, including duration (e.g. 15 hr/wk, three 8-hour shifts, full- time); a description of any personal protective equipment, including respirators, used by the employee; and the results of any previous medical determinations for the affected employee related to formaldehyde exposure to the extent that this information is within the employer's control. F. Physician’s Obligations The standard requires the employer to obtain a written statement from the physician. This statement must contain the physician’s opinion as to whether the employee has any medical condition which would place him or her at increased risk of impaired health from exposure to formaldehyde or use of respirators, as appropriate. The physician must also state his or her opinion regarding any restrictions that should be placed on the employee’s exposure to formaldehyde or upon the use of protective clothing or equipment such as respirators. If the employee wears a respirator as a result of his or her exposure to formaldehyde, the physician’s opinion must also contain a statement regarding the suitability of the employee to wear the type of respirator assigned. Finally, the physician must inform the employer that the employee has been told the results of the medical examination and of any medical conditions which require further explanation or treatment. This written opinion is not to contain any information on specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to formaldehyde. The purpose in requiring the examining physician to supply the employer with a written opinion is to provide the employer with a medical basis to assist the employer in placing employees initially, in assuring that their health is not being impaired by formaldehyde, and to assess the employee’s ability to use any required protective equipment (OSHA, 2013c).
to determine the nature of the disorder. Such testing should be performed by or under the supervision of a physician experienced in the procedures involved. evidence of dermal irritation of sensitization, including reddening and inflammation, urticaria, blistering, scaling, formation of skin fissures, or other symptoms. Since the integrity of the skin barrier is compromised by other dermal diseases, the presence of such disease should be noted. Skin sensitivity testing carries with it some risk of inducing sensitivity, and therefore, skin testing for formaldehyde sensitivity should not be used as a routine screening test. Sensitivity testing may be indicated in the investigation of a suspected existing sensitivity. Guidelines for such testing have been prepared by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.
3. Skin: The physician should be alert to
C. Additional Examinations or Tests The physician may deem it necessary to perform other medical examinations or tests as indicated. The standard provides a mechanism whereby these additional investigations are covered under the standard for occupational exposure to formaldehyde. D. Emergencies The examination of workers exposed in an emergency should be directed at the organ systems most likely to be affected. Much of the content of the examination will be similar to the periodic examination unless the patient has received a severe acute exposure requiring immediate attention to prevent serious consequences. If a severe overexposure requiring medical intervention or hospitalization has occurred, the physician must be alert to the possibility of delayed symptoms. Follow-up non- routine examinations may be necessary to assure the patient’s well-being.
Conclusion These standards and their appendixes provided by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration protect workers involved with formaldehyde from lethal or ill-bearing overexposures. They also establish guidelines as to how to deal with exceptional incidences when overexposure is unavoidable, and they assist in helping prevent any overexposures by setting rules for workplace environments and equipment to protect employees dealing with this versatile yet volatile industrial chemical.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/formaldehyde
EliteLearning.com/Funeral
Book Code: FIL1225
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