§ 627.8 - Occupational health.

An occupational health program will be implemented per AR 40-5, chapter 5, for all employees whose employment requires that they conduct duties in a BDP etiologic agent area. Essential elements of the program will include—

(a) Medical surveillance examinations. Medical examinations by a licensed medical doctor will be given prior to employment, at least every 3 years thereafter, and upon termination of duties requiring access to laboratories where etiologic agents are used. When full medical examinations are not given annually, health professionals will perform annual health screening. Safety and health professionals will ensure that medical examiners are made aware of all hazardous substances each employee works with at the time of the medical examination. The physician's findings will include assessment of whether an employee has any health condition that would preclude work with etiologic agents. If any of the findings obtained during the examination are outside the normal range, the employee's supervisor and the employee will be notified and counseled on the courses of action available. In addition, a safety and health audit will be conducted to identify any potential occupational causes for the abnormalities, and corrective measures will be taken if applicable.

(b) Serum samples. When appropriate, considering the agent(s) handled, baseline serum samples for laboratory and other at-risk personnel will be collected and stored for their biologically useful lifetime, but not longer than 40 years. Additional serum specimens will be collected periodically, based upon the agents handled, or as required by participation in a special immunizations program. SOPs will be written detailing the collection procedures and periods if serum sampling is deemed necessary.

(c) Assignment of personnel. Personnel assigned duties in work areas where etiologic agents are used will be evaluated to determine their suitability for their assigned tasks by the installation medical authority. Only personnel who are physically and mentally capable of working in biocontainment areas (BL-3 and BL-4) or with toxins will be assigned to these duties.

(d) Immunization of at-risk personnel. The guidelines for immunizations in the latest edition of the American College of Physicians’ Guide for Adult Immunizations and recommendations of Health and Human Services (HHS) in publication number (NIH) 88-8395 shall be followed. A resource list for available immunizations for personnel at risk is given in appendix B of this part.

(e) Reporting exposures. Spills and mishaps which result in observable, known or potential exposures to etiologic agents will be immediately reported to the supervisor, the safety officer, the responsible medical personnel, and the commander. Appropriate medical evaluation, surveillance, and treatment will be provided and written records of these occurrences will be maintained for 40 years. A Med-16 report will be initiated (see AR 40-400).

(f) Quarantine. When etiologic agents designated as BL-4 by the CDC-NIH in HHS publication no. (NIH) 88-8395, (or most recent edition) are handled, a facility for the quarantine, isolation, and medical care of personnel with potential or known laboratory-associated exposures will be available.