Section 325.51467. Medical surveillance, generally.

(1) An employer shall institute medical surveillance programs for all employees who are exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL.

(2)    An employer shall make medical surveillance available for employees who develop signs and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde and for all employees who are exposed to formaldehyde in emergencies. When determining whether an employee may be experiencing signs and symptoms of possible overexposure to formaldehyde, an employer may rely on the evidence that signs and symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure will occur only in exceptional circumstances when airborne exposure is less than 0.1 ppm and when formaldehyde is present in materials in concentrations less than 0.1%.

(3)          All medical procedures, including the administration of medical disease questionnaires, shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician

and   shall  be  provided  without   cost  to  the  employee,  without  loss   of pay,  and  at  a reasonable time and place.

(4)   An employer shall make the following medical surveillance documents available to employees before assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter. The employer shall also make the following medical surveillance documents available promptly upon determining that an employee is experiencing signs and symptoms indicative of possible overexposure to formaldehyde:

(a)   An employer-administered medical disease questionnaire, such as in appendix D to these rules, which is designed to elicit information in the following areas:

(i)   Work history.

(ii)   Smoking history.

(iii)   Any evidence of eye, nose, or throat irritation.

(iv)   Chronic airway problems or hyperactive airway disease.

(v)   Allergic skin conditions or dermatitis.

(vi)   Upper or lower respiratory problems.

(b)    A written determination by the physician, based on evaluation of the medical disease questionnaire, of whether a medical examination is necessary for employees who are not required to wear respirators to reduce the exposure to formaldehyde.

History: 1990 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2014 AACS; Republished in 2015 MR 8, May 15, 2015 can be referenced to 2014 AACS.