HAZWOPER 40 - Lesson 11: Medical
Surveillance Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Learning Objectives
At the completion of this lesson, you will be able to: - CORRECT ANSWER • Name
points that should be considered when developing an individualized medical surveillance
program.
• List the four components that a site-specific medical program must provide.
• Explain the two major functions that pre-employment screening should include.
• Discuss the preparatory procedures for obtaining emergency medical support.
• State the three requirements for maintaining proper medical surveillance records.
• Summarize the evaluative points on which a site safety officer should rate a medical
program.
Introduction - CORRECT ANSWER Daily, workers are faced with harmful conditions
on hazardous waste sites. Thus, they are exposed to safety hazards, toxic chemicals, and
biological hazards. To address this circumstance, 29 CFR 1910.120 requires employers to
develop a medical surveillance program. Such a plan applies to employees exposed or
potentially exposed to hazardous substances or health hazards at or above published exposure
levels. It also includes employees who have injuries, illnesses, or who are symptomatic due to
possible overexposure to hazardous substances.
Employees who are injured, become ill, or develop signs or symptoms due to possible
overexposure must also be included in the program. The primary purpose of a medical
surveillance program is to assess and monitor a worker's health before employment as well as
during the course of employment. The program also should include procedures for emergency
and non-emergency medical treatment and for maintenance of accurate records for future
reference.
Lesson Focus
, This lesson focuses on the following topics: - CORRECT ANSWER • Developing a
Site-Specific Medical Program
• Medical Surveillance
• Treatment
• Record Keeping
• Program Review
Developing a Site-Specific Medical Program - CORRECT ANSWER A medical
program should be individually planned for each site based on specific needs, location, and
potential exposures of employees at the site. A qualified physician with experience in
occupational health services must direct the medical program. When developing an individual
program the following things should be taken into consideration.
• Site conditions
• Monitoring the needs of each worker
• Routine job tasks
A medical plan shall identify toxic substances (examples include asbestos, heavy metals, and
herbicides) and recognize the limitations of occupational medical tests. For example, most lab
tests are based on the presence of specific identifiable toxic chemicals and may not be totally
appropriate for hazardous waste sites where numerous chemicals are present. Low-level
exposures to several chemicals can be worse than a high-level exposure to one chemical.
Another factor to take into consideration is that risk can vary for individuals depending on
factors such as age, weight, and off-site exposures.
A site-specific medical program must provide the following components.
• Medical surveillance of each employee
Surveillance Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Learning Objectives
At the completion of this lesson, you will be able to: - CORRECT ANSWER • Name
points that should be considered when developing an individualized medical surveillance
program.
• List the four components that a site-specific medical program must provide.
• Explain the two major functions that pre-employment screening should include.
• Discuss the preparatory procedures for obtaining emergency medical support.
• State the three requirements for maintaining proper medical surveillance records.
• Summarize the evaluative points on which a site safety officer should rate a medical
program.
Introduction - CORRECT ANSWER Daily, workers are faced with harmful conditions
on hazardous waste sites. Thus, they are exposed to safety hazards, toxic chemicals, and
biological hazards. To address this circumstance, 29 CFR 1910.120 requires employers to
develop a medical surveillance program. Such a plan applies to employees exposed or
potentially exposed to hazardous substances or health hazards at or above published exposure
levels. It also includes employees who have injuries, illnesses, or who are symptomatic due to
possible overexposure to hazardous substances.
Employees who are injured, become ill, or develop signs or symptoms due to possible
overexposure must also be included in the program. The primary purpose of a medical
surveillance program is to assess and monitor a worker's health before employment as well as
during the course of employment. The program also should include procedures for emergency
and non-emergency medical treatment and for maintenance of accurate records for future
reference.
Lesson Focus
, This lesson focuses on the following topics: - CORRECT ANSWER • Developing a
Site-Specific Medical Program
• Medical Surveillance
• Treatment
• Record Keeping
• Program Review
Developing a Site-Specific Medical Program - CORRECT ANSWER A medical
program should be individually planned for each site based on specific needs, location, and
potential exposures of employees at the site. A qualified physician with experience in
occupational health services must direct the medical program. When developing an individual
program the following things should be taken into consideration.
• Site conditions
• Monitoring the needs of each worker
• Routine job tasks
A medical plan shall identify toxic substances (examples include asbestos, heavy metals, and
herbicides) and recognize the limitations of occupational medical tests. For example, most lab
tests are based on the presence of specific identifiable toxic chemicals and may not be totally
appropriate for hazardous waste sites where numerous chemicals are present. Low-level
exposures to several chemicals can be worse than a high-level exposure to one chemical.
Another factor to take into consideration is that risk can vary for individuals depending on
factors such as age, weight, and off-site exposures.
A site-specific medical program must provide the following components.
• Medical surveillance of each employee
