Subpart Z
Under Appendix D to 1910.1027, the employee who will be interviewed must read and sign the directions before the interview. The form plainly instructs that the directions are to be read by the employee and signed prior to the interview. See also 1910.1027 for the medical surveillance requirements related to cadmium exposure.
The purpose of the preplacement (initial) interview and exam is to establish a baseline health status and evaluate whether working with cadmium might cause unusual problems for the worker. Appendix D to 1910.1027 explains that initial examinations are used to establish current health and to determine respirator fitness and susceptibility to cadmium effects. This requirement supports the medical surveillance obligations in 1910.1027.
Personal information disclosed during the interview is confidential; the doctor cannot share it with the employer. Appendix D to 1910.1027 states the information is strictly confidential and that test results go to you (the employee), your doctor, and your employer. The appendix also explains the physician will provide the employer only a written opinion about the employee’s ability to work with cadmium, not personal medical details. See 1910.1027 for medical surveillance record rules.
No. The physician cannot share the employee’s detailed medical history with the employer. Appendix D to 1910.1027 explicitly states that personal information given to the doctor is strictly confidential; the employer only receives the physician’s written opinion about fitness to work with cadmium. This practice aligns with the medical surveillance provisions of 1910.1027.
Blood and urine samples may be collected during cadmium medical surveillance. Appendix D to 1910.1027 tells employees they will be asked to give blood and urine samples as part of the exam. This biological monitoring supports the requirements and testing guidance in 1910.1027.
The employee will receive written results and an information sheet explaining any biological monitoring or physical exam findings. Appendix D to 1910.1027 states that results go to the employee, the doctor, and the employer and that the employee will also receive an information sheet explaining results. See 1910.1027 for medical surveillance reporting obligations.
Employees who work with cadmium are eligible for periodic medical examinations; the appendix states OSHA says everyone who works with cadmium can have periodic medical exams. Appendix D to 1910.1027 explains reasons for periodic exams, such as detecting health changes early and preventing kidney damage. The frequency and specifics are governed by 1910.1027.
The questionnaire focuses on lung and kidney health, blood pressure, medications, diabetes, anemia, reproductive history, and ability to wear a respirator. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes specific questions about bronchitis, emphysema, cough, smoking history, kidney or urinary problems, blood pressure, diabetes, medications, reproductive outcomes, and respirator fitness. These focus areas reflect cadmium’s known effects and the medical surveillance requirements in 1910.1027.
The questionnaire asks about smoking because smoking affects lung health and can confound evaluation of cadmium-related respiratory effects. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes detailed smoking questions (current/former, pack-years) so the physician can interpret lung exam and testing results accurately in the context of cadmium surveillance under 1910.1027.
The form asks about fertility problems, miscarriages, stillbirths, birth defects, and timing of abnormal pregnancy outcomes to assess potential reproductive effects of cadmium exposure. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes those reproductive history questions so the physician can evaluate whether workplace cadmium exposure might be related to reproductive issues, in line with the health-surveillance purposes of 1910.1027.
The physician’s written opinion to the employer is limited to whether the employee is physically capable of working with cadmium and any limitations or need for follow-up; personal medical details remain confidential. Appendix D to 1910.1027 states the doctor will give the employer a written opinion on physical capability but cannot share personal information. This limitation is consistent with the confidentiality provisions tied to medical surveillance in 1910.1027.
Yes, a termination exam can be part of the medical surveillance program; the form lists 'Termination' as one type of preplacement exam. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes an exam type checklist (Periodic, Termination, Initial, Other) to document end-of-employment status and detect any health changes attributable to workplace cadmium exposure, consistent with 1910.1027.
The form asks about asthma, heart attack, chest pains, seizures, stroke, claustrophobia, and medications to assess respirator fitness. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes those respirator-related questions and refers physicians to the Respiratory Protective Devices Manual; this supports the respirator medical evaluation requirements tied to cadmium work under 1910.1027.
The form asks about kidney stones, protein or blood in urine, difficulty urinating, and other kidney/urinary disorders so the physician can detect cadmium-related kidney effects early. Appendix D to 1910.1027 lists these specific kidney questions because cadmium can harm kidneys; this examination supports the surveillance and biological monitoring provisions in 1910.1027.
The questionnaire asks about blood donation and recent heavy bleeding because those events can affect blood cadmium measurements and other lab results. Appendix D to 1910.1027 asks about recent blood donations and bleeding to help the physician correctly interpret blood tests used for cadmium surveillance under 1910.1027.
Employers should tell employees that results will be used to assess fitness to work with cadmium, track health changes over time, and determine respirator fitness, and that personal medical information is confidential. Appendix D to 1910.1027 directs that employees be informed about the exam purpose and confidentiality; these practices align with the medical surveillance requirements in 1910.1027.
The form requires recording prior diagnoses of high blood pressure and whether the employee is taking or has been advised to take medication; the physician uses this to evaluate risk and interpret lab results. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes fields for blood pressure history and medications because hypertension and its treatment can affect kidney function and fitness determinations under 1910.1027.
Employees should answer questions as completely and carefully as they can, but the appendix's directions emphasize voluntary cooperation and confidentiality rather than mandating answers. Appendix D to 1910.1027 asks employees to answer questions completely and carefully; refusal could limit the physician’s ability to evaluate fitness under 1910.1027, so employers normally encourage full participation consistent with employee rights and confidentiality.
The form collects job title, duties, length of employment, and type of exam (initial, periodic, termination) because those details help correlate exposure history with health findings. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes job and duration fields to let the physician assess exposure timing and trends as required by the surveillance intent of 1910.1027.
Menstrual history for women and prostate issues for men are asked to identify reproductive or genitourinary conditions that could be affected by cadmium or that might alter test interpretation. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes these gender-specific questions to enable appropriate clinical assessment consistent with the goals of 1910.1027.
Yes. The appendix tells physicians that additional information for respirator evaluation can be found in The Respiratory Protective Devices Manual and includes specific respirator-related questions. Appendix D to 1910.1027 refers physicians to that manual to help determine whether the employee can safely wear a respirator as part of the surveillance program governed by 1910.1027.
The form asks about anemia and unusual fatigue because these symptoms can reflect blood or systemic effects that may influence cadmium test interpretation and fitness decisions. Appendix D to 1910.1027 includes queries on anemia and energy levels so the physician can consider hematologic factors when evaluating cadmium-related risks under 1910.1027.
Yes. Appendix D to 1910.1027 states employees will receive an information sheet explaining results of biological monitoring or physical examinations, and 1910.1027 requires communication of medical findings relevant to workplace safety and employee health.
Employers should use the physician’s written opinion to determine whether an employee is physically capable of working with cadmium and to implement any recommended limitations or follow-up. Appendix D to 1910.1027 says the doctor will provide a written opinion on capability; employers must follow that opinion while respecting the confidentiality limits described in 1910.1027.
If a physician identifies health changes possibly caused by cadmium, they should report the fitness-for-duty opinion and recommended work restrictions or follow-up to the employer and communicate findings and recommendations to the employee, consistent with confidentiality rules. Appendix D to 1910.1027 directs that physicians provide written opinions about work capability and follow-up; these actions support the medical surveillance objectives in 1910.1027.
No. Appendix D is a model questionnaire for history-taking and does not set numeric medical exposure limits; the regulatory exposure limits and biological monitoring criteria appear in 1910.1027. Appendix D supports evaluation and recordkeeping but does not replace the numeric limits and action levels in the standard.