Risks are everywhere in a changing workplace. From animal researchers to grounds laborers, few jobs are without hazards. Reducing risk and protecting people is what the Occupational Health Program at OSU is all about.
The program is designed to provide medical surveillance, immunizations and health and safety education to faculty, staff and student employees in the course of their employment at OSU.
Animal Hander
Respirator
Asbestos
Noise Exposure
Travel Medicine
Mandated by federal requirements, the primary goal of Occupational Health Services is to evaluate and address potential risks to you that may be associated with your use of animals. Enrollment in this program is mandatory for all personnel for whom OSU has responsibility and who have substantial animal contact, including faculty, classified staff, faculty research assistants, research associates, technicians, graduate students, post-doctoral students, undergraduate students, visiting faculty, and others involved with animals.
Every employee that wears a respirator on the job, whether required to wear one or not, shall have it properly fitted prior to initial use and at all times while performing an operation in a hazardous atmosphere. No employee shall use or be assigned to a task that requires the use of a respirator until it has been determined that the employee is physically able to perform under such conditions.
This process begins with the completion of a cover page AND a medical questionnaire available by printing both forms. This questionnaire has been developed in accordance with OR-OSHA regulations. The employee returns the questionnaire directly to Occupational Medicine. A physical will be conducted for those employees who indicate potential medical problems on the medical questionnaire. After review by the Occupational Medicine Clinician, Environmental Health & Safety is notified of the employee's physical ability to wear a respirator. Periodically, a review of the employee's health status must be made, at the frequency specified by the Occupational Medicine Clinician, by completing and submitting another questionnaire.
Employees who have been identified as handling asbestos on campus should recieve an asbestos physical, including medical clearance to use a respirator. We are recommending that any employee, who may be working on asbestos abatement contact Environmental Health & Safety, tel: 737-2273 to see if they should be enrolled in the program.
Annual Medical Monitoring for employees exposed to asbestos is required by OR-OSHA 1910.1001
An extensive travel program is available to serve OSU faculty, staff and student employees traveling for business or research to countries outside the U.S. Users of the clinic receive information about immunization requirements in the parts of the world to which they will travel, disease prevention, handling of medications, dealing with emergencies and obtaining medical assistance abroad.
Appointments for pre-travel consultation with the Occupational Medicine Nurse can be made at 737-WELL (9355).
Employees traveling outside the U.S. should access necessary travel information and register their trip at the OSU Office of Risk Management.
There is a charge for the travel consultation. Additional fees are assessed if you receive a prescription, immunization and/or lab tests.
The US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers international travel guidance by providing helpful strategies to reduce health risks. The OSHA bulletin suggests that international business travelers follow recommendations for immunizations published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are available at:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx