Medical Consultations
In accordance with the requirements of the OSHA Lab Standard, Indiana University provides all employees who work with chemicals the opportunity to receive medical consultation and examinations, when the conditions identified in Examination Criteria present, under the supervision of a licensed physician. Medical examinations are provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place.
Medical facilities
The medical care facilities and hours of operation for your respective campus can be found at IU Human Resources.
Examination criteria
Medical examinations are available to employees who work with chemicals in the laboratory whenever:
- An employee develops signs or symptoms associated with a chemical to which exposure may have occurred in the laboratory;
- Exposure monitoring reveals an exposure level routinely above the action level (or in the absence of an action level, the PEL) for an OSHA regulated substance for which there are exposure monitoring and medical surveillance requirements; or
- A spill, leak, explosion, or other event occurs in the laboratory resulting in the likelihood of chemical exposure.
Information to the physician
The employee’s department or principal investigator must provide the physician with the following information regarding the employee’s potential exposure:
- The identity of the chemicals to which the employee may have been exposed.
- The Safety Data Sheet for the chemical(s) the employee may have been overexposed (caution: do not delay obtaining medical attention while securing the proper safety data sheets); and
- A description of the employee’s symptoms.
Physician’s written opinion
Upon completion of the employee’s consultation or examination, the department or principal investigator must obtain a written opinion from the examining physician that includes the following information:
- Any recommendations for further medical follow-up;
- Results of the medical examination and associated tests;
- Any medical condition found as a result of the examination that may place the employee at increased risk from further chemical exposure in the laboratory; and
- A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the consultation or examination.
- The physician’s written opinion shall not reveal specific findings of diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure.
Medical services
Reporting Procedures for Medical Attention
For any work-related injury (whether or not the individual elects to seek medical attention) the supervisor or principal investigator (PI) must complete an Employee Occupational Injury-Illness Report Form.
For treatment the supervisor or PI must also complete an Employer Notification for Treatment Form (IUB and Regional Campuses). All forms for all campuses are found at University Human Resource Services.
- Notify your Principal Investigator, Lab Manager, or Lab Supervisor immediately;
- The Principal Investigator, Lab Manager, or Lab Supervisor must complete the electronic Notification for Treatment form before the injured employee receives care. The required form can be found at the IU Human Resources website;
- Within twenty-four (24) hours, fill out and submit an Occupational Injury/Illness form found at the IU Human Resources website;
- Report to the Designated Medical Services Provider for your respective campus;
- For life threatening injuries or illnesses, call 911 for ambulance assistance.