Section 325.51874. Providing of information to physician by employer; employer required to obtain medical opinion; employer required to obtain results of biological monitoring; findings unrelated to cadmium exposure.

(1) An employer shall provide all of the following information to an examining physician:

(a)  ) A copy of these rules and appendices.

(b)   A description of an affected employee’s former, current, and anticipated duties as they relate to the employee’s occupational exposure to cadmium.

(c)     An employee’s former, current, and anticipated future levels of occupational exposure to cadmium.

(d)  A description of any personal protective equipment, including respirators, that were used or are to be used by the employee, including the date of use and the length of time that the employee has used that equipment.

(e)    The results of previous biological monitoring and medical examinations that are relevant to the employee.

(2)   An employer shall promptly obtain a written medical opinion from the examining physician for each medical examination performed on each employee. The written opinion shall contain all of the following information:

(a)  The physician’s diagnosis for the employee.

(b)    The physician’s opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition that would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment to health from further exposure to cadmium, including any indications of potential cadmium toxicity.

(c)    The results of any biological or other testing or related evaluations that directly assess the employee’s absorption of cadmium.

(d)   Any recommended removal from, or limitation on, the activities or duties of the employee or on the employee’s use of personal protective equipment including respirators.

(e)   A statement that the physician has clearly and carefully explained to the employee the results of the medical examination, including all biological monitoring results and any medical conditions related to cadmium exposure that require further evaluation or treatment, and any limitation on the employee’s diet or use of medications.

(3)  An employer promptly shall obtain a copy of the results of any biological monitoring that is provided to an employee by requirements other than those of a medical examination required by R 325.51869 and R 325.51871 and, if there is no written medical opinion, shall obtain an explanation sheet explaining the results.

(4)    An employer shall instruct the physician not to reveal orally or in the written medical opinion that is given to the employer specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to an occupational exposure to cadmium.

History: 1993 AACS; 2013 AACS.