Company Care works with employers and employees through educational programs and various health screenings to promote a healthier, safer workplace in Greater Pasadena, TX. Safety services offered through Company Care are designed to assist companies in creating a work environment that will minimize the probability of injury or accidents. These services and programs include the following:
Company Care's Respiratory Surveillance Program
Respiratory Surveillance programs provide pulmonary function screening and respirator monitoring. The clinical technicians at Company Care are NIOSH certified for PFT. The assessment of pulmonary function with a spirometer has become an increasingly common practice in industry and other outpatient settings. Spirometry is now properly regarded as an integral component of any respiratory medical surveillance program. During the preplacement evaluation, it can identify applicants with preexisting respiratory impairment to assure proper job placement and to assist in the selection of compatible respiratory protection. Periodic retesting of workers can detect pulmonary disease in its earliest stages.
Regulatory standards have been established through American Thoracic Society (ATS) and incorporated in OSHA law. The purpose of the respiratory surveillance program is to provide documentation of baseline lung function and to identify any pre-existing lung function problems. The goal of pulmonary function screening is to minimize effects of occupation exposure by early detection and to identify individuals at greater risk for occupational exposures. If patient's test results are normal, no intervention is necessary. Our physician will recommend the appropriate referrals to a specialist for your consideration.
Employer Responsibility
The employer must designate a qualified program administrator to oversee the designated respiratory surveillance program, must provide respirators, training, and medical evaluations at no cost to the employee.
Medical Evaluation
Employers must provide a medical evaluation to determine employee's ability to use a respirator, before fit testing and use. Employers must identify a physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) to perform medical evaluations using a medical questionnaire or an initial medical examination that obtains the same information as the medical questionnaire. Employers must obtain a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator from the PLHCP. Additional medical evaluations are required under certain circumstances such as the employee reports medical signs or symptoms related to ability to use respirator; PLHCP, program administrator, or supervisor recommends reevaluation; information from the respirator program, including observations made during fit testing and program evaluation, indicates a need; change occurs in workplace conditions that may substantially increase the physiological burden on an employee. Annual review of medical status is not required.
Fit Testing
All employees using a negative or positive pressure tight-fitting face piece respirator must pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT). Fit testing is required prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator face piece is used, and at least annually thereafter. An additional fit test is required whenever the employee reports, or the employer or PLHCP makes visual observations of, changes in the employee's physical condition that could affect respirator fit (e.g., facial scarring, dental changes, cosmetic surgery, or an obvious change in body weight).
Record Keeping
Records of medical evaluations must be retained and made available per 29 CFR 1910.1020. A record of fit tests must be established and retained until the next fit test. A written copy of the current program must be retained.
For more information visit OSHA's website.