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Issue IV: Medical Surveillance

    Recommendation Status * Synopses of Agency Actions
No. 9
A
Require periodic collection of spirometry & questionnaire data.
R
 
 
B
NIOSH should share medical surveillance results w/MSHA.
C
Information being provided under an informal agreement with NIOSH.
 
C
NIOSH should develop plan to determine which cases require followup.
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response.
 
D
MSHA examine effectiveness of controls at mines w/new cases.
O
Initiated staff-level discussions of possible response strategies.
 
E
Miners w/abnormal results may benefit from
O
 
 
 
-- secondary prevention efforts and
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response.
 
 
-- appropriate education re: nature of miningrelated lung diseases.
C
Initiated 'Silica Awareness Campaign' & distributed hazard information cards. [11/94]
 
F
Extend medical testing of u.g. miners to surface miners.
O
Initiated rulemaking. [8/97]
No. 10
A
NIOSH oversee medical exams to achieve 85% participation rate.
O
Drafted directive re: Participation in periodic medical examination program. [6/97]
 
 
 
 
Developed proposed media plan to promote participation in medical exams. [6/97]
 
B
Frequency of periodic medical exams per NIOSH Criteria Document.
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response. [6/97]
 
C
NIOSH should specify performance standards for medical tests, collect & analyze medical results, identify & investigate w/MSHA "hot spots."
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response. [7/97]
 
D
MSHA should mandate operator medical examination programs.
C
Required by regulation in 42 CFR Part 37
 
 
 
 
Drafted directive re: Inspection procedures for assessing compliance w/ regulations.
 
E
MSHA should supply exposure & employment data to NIOSH.
C
Instituted process for annual download of required data by NIOSH. [7/97]
 
F
Mine operators should pay for mandated medical testing.
C
Required for u.g. miners by sec. 203 (c) of the Mine Act.
 
G
Improve miner participation by easier access to exams, effectiveness, education, timely notification of results, & maintain confidentiality.
O
To improve miner participation, notification of periodic medical exams mailed directly to miners' residence by NIOSH.
 
H
Promote the development of effective & accurate exposure classification.
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response.
 
I
NIOSH should develop program to track & test former miners.
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response.
No. 11
A
Part 90 program should be evaluated to determine its effectiveness.
O
Held staff-level discussions with NIOSH representatives re: Agency response.
 
B
Results of evaluation should be presented to an advisory committee.
O
Agency decision pending outcome of program evaluation.
No. 14
A
Protect construction workers, contract drillers & other workers.
O
Issued directive re: Sampling of contractors, construction sites and other employees.
 
B
Expand medical surveillance & prevention research to contract workers.
P
Developed strategies for protecting the health of contractor employees.
 
C
Assist OSHA to bring similar attention to exploratory drillers.
O
Established initial OSHA contacts.

* Status Codes:
C - Effort(s) to address recommendation completed.
P - Effort(s) completed but review & approval pending.
O - Effort(s) ongoing.
R - Requires rulmaking.