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Medical Surveillance

Medical surveillance is used in several areas at the University of Memphis to ensure that employees are physically able to perform their assigned work tasks and to help workers maintain health and wellness in the course of their duties. Areas that may require employees to be under medical surveillance include:

  • Animal facility workers
  • Respirator users (Respiratory Protection Program)
  • Workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens (Bloodborne Pathogens Program)
  • Workers exposed to loud noise (Hearing Conservation Program)

Medical surveillance and any required or recommended vaccination are done at no cost to the employee. The requirement for each area is discussed in more detail below.

Animal Facility Workers

All employees that work with animals in one of the animal facilities on campus are required to be enrolled in the medical surveillance program. To become enrolled:

  1. Email IACUC@memphis.edu with your name and contact information.
  2. The occupational health provider will contact you to arrange an appointment.
  3. Complete the appropriate forms (see forms section at the bottom of the page) to take with you to the appointment. Complete the exposure form with your Principal Investigator. Complete the animal allergy screening and the initial health questionnaire (section A of this form can be skipped) privately.
  4. After completing the visit with the occupational health provider, contact the IACUC again to let them know. This will later be confirmed by a letter from the provider sent to the university.

 

Respirator Users

All employees that wear a respirator as a required part of their job must be fit tested an medically cleared to wear a respirator. To become medically cleared:

  1. Contact EHS@memphis.edu with your name, contact information and the reason a respirator is required for your job.
  2. EHS will provide contact information for the occupational health provider or will arrange an appointment on your behalf. The appointment must be during work hours and/or counted as work time. Supervisors may not require employees to make the visit on their own time.
  3. Complete the appropriate forms (see forms section at the bottom of the page) to take with you to the appointment. Complete the exposure form with your supervisor. Complete the initial health questionnaire (section A of this form can be skipped) privately.
  4. After completing the visit with the occupational health provider, contact EHS again to let them know. This will later be confirmed by a letter from the provider sent to the university.
  5. The worker must then be fit tested for the required respirator by EHS.

More details on the respiratory protection program are provided in the Personal Protective Equipment portion of the website or see the Respiratory Protection Plan.

Workers Who May Be Exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens

There are a few employees on campus who reasonably may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) in the course of their job. There are others that have a small chance of being exposed. For those who may reasonably be exposed, medical surveillance is required and Hepatitis B Vaccination is recommended (if refused, the employee must sign a declination form). For those that have a small chance of exposure, no enrollment is required and the Hepatitis B Vaccination may be received if desired. If you are required to be enrolled:

  1. Contact EHS@memphis.edu with your name, contact information and the reason you are required to be enrolled.
  2. EHS will provide contact information for the occupational health provider or will arrange an appointment on your behalf. The appointment must be during work hours and/or counted as work time. Supervisors may not require employees to make the visit on their own time.
  3. Complete the appropriate forms (see forms section at the bottom of the page) to take with you to the appointment. Complete the exposure form with your supervisor. Complete the initial health questionnaire (section A of this form can be skipped) privately.
  4. After completing the visit with the occupational health provider, contact EHS again to let them know. This will later be confirmed by a letter from the provider sent to the university.
  5. If you do not wish to receive the vaccination, the occupational health provider will give you a declination form to sign.

If your work presents a small risk of being exposed to BBPs and you wish to be vaccinated, contact EHS to get the process started.

More information on bloodborne pathogens can be found in your department's Exposure Control Plan. Contact your department head for details.

Workers Exposed to Loud Noise

EHS has performed hazard assessment for most task that expose employees to loud noises. For areas where a worker will be exposed to noise over a certain limit, enrollment in the Hearing Conservation Program is required. To become enrolled:

  1. EHS will inform you if you are working in a position where enrollment is required. If you are unsure, contact EHS@memphis.edu.
  2. EHS will send you information on when to visit the audiometric testing provider.

More details on the hearing conservation program are provided in the Personal Protective Equipment portion of the website or see the Hearing Conservation Plan.

Forms

Exposure Form
OHSP Initial Health Questionnaire
Animal Allergy Screening