The Medical Data Base System of Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation

The Medical Data Base System provides a mechanism for correlating industrial hygiene survey data with specific jobs and with the medical records of the individual employee. An occupational survey groups jobs by departments or by location according to potential exposures. Results of industrial hygiene surveys are correlated with the occupational survey to assign exposures. Results of pre-placement health examinations, given to every employee and periodic examinations, given to those employees who are potentially exposed to harmful chemical or physical agents in their work environment, form the Medical Records File. Development of the data collection and storage phase of this system was completed in 1972, and the system was implemented at that time. The retrieval/analysis phase of the system is currently under development. Although the present data base does not provide an adequate basis for true epidemiological studies, some trial evaluations have been completed successfully.