Chapter 5: Medical Consultations and Examinations

Employees must notify their laboratory supervisor of all work-related injuries and illnesses regardless of the magnitude; the laboratory supervisor must then complete the Michigan Tech Incident and Injury Report form.

Consultations and examinations

All employees who work with hazardous chemicals must have an opportunity to receive medical attention, including any follow-up examinations which the examining physician determines to be necessary, under the following circumstances:

  • when an employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a hazardous chemical to which the employee may have been exposed in the laboratory;
  • where exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the Permissible Exposure Limit) for an OSHA/MIOSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements;
  • whenever an event takes place in the work area, such as a spill, leak, explosion, or other occurrence resulting in the likelihood of a hazardous exposure.

All medical consultations and examinations must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed health care provider and must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. The University, in conjunction with the lab PI, shall provide the following information to the health care provider:

  • the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) to which the employee may have been exposed;
  • a description of the conditions surrounding the exposure, including available quantitative exposure data;
  • a description of any signs and symptoms of exposure that the employee is experiencing.

The University shall obtain a written opinion from the examining health care provider which shall include the following:

  • any recommendation for further medical follow-up; 
  • the results of the medical examination and any associated tests; 
  • any medical condition which may be revealed in the course of the examination which may place the employee at increased risk as a result of exposure to a hazardous chemical found in the workplace;
  • a statement that the employee has been informed of the results of the consultation or medical examination and any medical condition that may require further examination or treatment; 
  • any work restrictions.

NOTE - The written opinion of the health care provider shall not reveal specific finding of diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.

Chapter 6