Medical Fitness Evaluation for Respirator Users: Results of a National Survey of Private Sector Employers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bang KM ; Doney B ; Ganocy S ; Greskevich, Mark F. ; Groce D ; Hoffman W ; Syamlal G
• Description:
  Objective: To provide information on medical evaluation procedures for respirator use in private sector establishments. Methods: In 2001, data on respirator use and practices were collected in a survey of private sector establishments. Results: Of establishments where respirators were required, 46% did not evaluate employees' medical fitness. Evaluations for fitness increased with establishment size, ranging from 35% in small establishments (1-10 workers) to 95% in large establishments (greater than or equal to 1000 workers). Questionnaire with a follow-up examination, as needed, was the most common method of evaluating medical fitness (48%). Conclusions: Results suggest that about half of all private sector establishments where respirators are required do not comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for medical fitness evaluations. Improved awareness among employers and workers and identification of methods to increase medical evaluation practices, especially among smaller establishments, is needed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Workplace
• Keywords:
  Medical-examinations Physical-fitness Questionnaires Regulations Respirators Respiratory-protective-equipment Surveillance Work-environment Work-practices Worker-health
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies ; NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  49
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20032367
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2007 Jun; 49(6):691-699
• Contact Point Address:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies , Mail Stop HG-900.2, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  gsyamlal@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1642adc03f0555c2db60996f6945cedc24ad544596c9f1e0163d5452f7889a9dc7f70eeb2eee33c563b58a7ae435953e1325643ad417d8fa7b6fb821444d6c1d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/186377/cdc_186377_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 334.25 KB ]