(3) Emergency care after duty hours. Provisions will be made for medical
care of emergencies during non-duty hours of the MTF, if individuals are employed on
other than normal day shifts.
(4) First aid. Utilization of first aid kits when professionally staffed and
appropriately equipped health care facilities are readily available is not in the best
interest of the employee. This practice also results in failure to report occupational
injuries and loss of epidemiological data. If local medical personnel determine that first
aid kits are needed at certain work areas, injuries incurred and treatments given will be
reported to health clinic personnel for recording in the employee's medical record.
e. Illness Absence Monitoring.
(1) A policy of encouraging referral of employees to the occupational health
clinic prior to leaving work because of illness will be considered. Benefits to be derived
from such a policy include appropriate disposition of ill employees, opportunities for
health education, and increased awareness on the part of occupational health
personnel of the types of health problems employees are having. Additionally, man-
hours can be conserved if palliative treatment is given for an acute minor illness before
it becomes serious so that the employee is able to remain on the job.
(2) Policies related to health clearance of employees prior to returning to
work after illness or injury should be determined by the nature of the work performed,
the individual health needs of the employee, the supervisor's recommendations, and the
capabilities of the occupational health staff. Interviewing employees following a
significant illness or injury helps to bring employees with special health problems to the
attention of occupational health personnel and ensures that employees do not return to
work before they are able. As a rule, having employees clear through the health clinic
after illness absence in excess of five working days will meet this health support
objective without unnecessarily burdening the occupational health staff. Special
requirements for clearance will be instituted for employees engaged in patient care and
food service activities to ensure that these individuals do not return to work when
capable of transmitting a communicable illness.
f. Chronic Disease or Disability Surveillance. Employees with chronic
disease or disability should be identified through such procedures as a review of
Standard Form (SF) 177, routing medical examination, or mass screening programs.
The OH staff will maintain a list of all chronically ill or disabled persons that could affect
or be affected by their work assignments. Medical records of such personnel should be
coded and include relevant clinical information regarding the patient's condition and the
name of his/her private physician.
g. Immunization Program. Appropriate immunizations should be provided to
employees potentially exposed to infectious disease because of the work environment
or required foreign travel.
MD0165
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