OHAP Responsibilities

Environmental, Health and Safety Services (EHSS):

• Coordinates the Occupational Health Assurance Program at Virginia Tech;
• Provides or coordinates all medical monitoring and medical services for covered employees;
• Maintains records according to OSHA requirements; and,
• Provides exposure monitoring and evaluations to determine if employees are being exposed above legal limits that would make it necessary for them to participate in this program.

Departments are expected to:

• Assure supervisors know to communicate personnel changes such as new hires, terminations, and role changes to EHSS by calling 231-5985;
• Implement recommendations of EHSS monitoring and corrective action reports;
• Support supervisors with providing employees time away-from-work to attend scheduled appointments for medical tests and physician evaluations;
• Reimburse EHSS for missed physician appointments; and,
• Request exposure monitoring services, as needed.

Supervisors/Principal Investigators are expected to:

• Notify EHSS before an employee that participated in medical surveillance leaves the position either through retirement, transfer or role change;
• Promptly notify EHSS when a new employee is hired into a position that historically participated in medical surveillance, and assures medical services are provided before the employee is exposed to the hazardous condition;
• Implement recommendations of EHSS monitoring and corrective action reports.
• Assure employees keep scheduled appointments for medical tests and physician evaluations;
• Assure new employees are provided proper training on work practices and procedures necessary to reduce exposure to hazards requiring medical surveillance; and,
• Request exposure monitoring services, when a suspect overexposure condition exists, by calling 231-5985.

Employees are expected to:

• Keep all scheduled appointments for medical testing and physician evaluations;
• Implement recommendations of monitoring reports;
• Use personal protective equipment when required;
• Follow established worksite rules when working with or around hazards covered by this program;
• Request exposure monitoring services, as needed; and,
• Report any changes in personal health that might be related to a work place health hazard:
  • If you are pregnant, seeking to become pregnant, immunocompromised, or have concerns related to your health based on your workplace exposure, discuss your concerns with your primary care physician and/or the occupational physician when an appointment is scheduled;
  • If you develop signs or symptoms that you associate with exposures in your workplace or that are related to respirator use, contact EHSS immediately by calling 231-5985 so that a consultation can be arranged with the occupational physician.