Two NIOSH resources for implementing workplace safety and health surveillance

To improve safety and health in the workplace, appropriate occupational health programs should be implemented utilizing expertise from multiple disciplines. In other words, the occupational health program should be a team effort. Expertise from all aspects of occupational health should be utilized, from the industrial hygienist, to the safety officer, to the occupational health nurse, and the practicing physician--all should be involved in the program to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. Two NIOSH resources have been described to assist the occupational health professional in the improvement of safety and health in the workplace. First, the SHEO approach, where a separate SHEO list is to be developed for each workplace. This may be a problem when the physician is an outside contractor, but with the help of the team approach, a list of SHEOs can be developed. Second, medical screening and biological monitoring is often required. While we realize that medical screening and biological monitoring is part of the complete occupational health program, the table of medical tests that we have prepared may give some leads into the type(s) of medical tests to be conducted on the individual worker at a particular worksite.