Medical Surveillance Services for Law Enforcement Officers

In the course of their day-to-day duties, law enforcement officers may be exposed to occupational hazards such as noise, lead, organophosphates, tuberculosis, and bloodborne pathogens. To comply with the standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), agencies must provide medical screening and surveillance for employees who may be exposed to occupational hazards. Federal Occupational Health’s (FOH) Medical Surveillance Services, offered through its Law Enforcement Medical Program, helps agencies prevent work related illnesses as well as complies with OSHA requirements.

FOH offers a complete range of Medical Surveillance Services, which are customized to meet the unique needs of law enforcement personnel. These services include:

Exposure Assessment
FOH Occupational Health Physicians, or Reviewing Medical Officers (RMOs), assess exposures by collecting and analyzing data including specific job tasks; hazard inventories; quantified industrial hygiene measurements; histories of dose, duration, and frequency of exposure; and use of personal protective equipment.

Selection of Personnel for Surveillance
FOH helps agencies develop appropriate and specific criteria for personnel to enter and exit the medical surveillance program.

Selection of Screening Tests and Examination Components
FOH recommends the most appropriate medical screening tests based on the occupational exposure. In addition, FOH recommends the frequency of testing based on regulations and exposures.

Physical Examinations
FOH performs baseline/preplacement, periodic, and exit exams at convenient FOH locations across the country.

Interpretation of Test Results
In addition to routine interpretation of individual results, FOH’s surveillance program includes analysis of aggregate medical data to identify patterns or trends among groups of employees and addresses the need for further action.

Notification
FOH RMOs provide the required written opinion as to the presence or absence of any detected medical conditions that could be work-related or would increase the risk of material impairment of the law enforcement officer’s health from exposure.
Contact FOH today to learn how FOH’s Medical Surveillance Services for law enforcement officers can help your agency with the special needs of this group of professionals.