Occupational Health provides medical assessment, monitoring, intervention, and evaluation to MSU employees related to their occupational risks. These services are required by Federal and State laws, and we share responsibility with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
Work with animals or unfixed animal tissue.
This covers MSU employees that have occupational exposure to animals or unfixed animal tissue, including employees caring for animals and cleaning animal environments, such as cages or stalls. This includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal farm workers, animal caretakers, or lab workers that handle animal tissues.
The type of monitoring and training needed is based on the type of animal(s) and the type of contact.
Required monitoring/training:
Review of the questionnaire will determine additional requirements and follow-up.
Educational materials (from UC Davis):
Resources:
Drive a University vehicle which requires a commercial driver’s license.
Federal law requires that an employee must obtain and carry a Commercial Driver License (CDL) with appropriate endorsements if they operate:
Vehicles: With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.
Combination Vehicles: Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more and a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more.
Any vehicles:
Designed or used to transport more than eight passengers (including the driver) for compensation.
Designed to transport 16 or more people (including the driver).
Carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placards.
Required monitoring/training:
Physical exam by University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health. Call 517-353-9137 to schedule. Please indicate if the employee works off campus.
Participation in random drug screening program
Review of training packet for commercial driver
There is an effective vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis B. OSHA requires employers to offer this vaccine to employees at potential risk for blood borne pathogen exposure. Remember the Hepatitis B vaccine only protects against Hepatitis B so that even when you are vaccinated, you need to follow universal precautions to protect against all the other blood borne pathogens.
Beginning in November 1991, CDC recommended that all infants receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. In August 1995, CDC recommended that 11–12-year-olds and in January 1999 that those under 19 years old not previously vaccinated receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. If you are not sure if you have been vaccinated, and you were born in Michigan in 1992 or later, you can check Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) Immunization Portal for Public*. If you were not born in Michigan and grew up in another state or were born prior to 1992 you will need to check previous medical records to see if you have already received the Hepatitis B vaccine.
All paid employees taking this training for the first time need to complete and submit the Hepatitis B Surveillance Form:
Do not complete this form if you are not a paid employee.
Do not complete this form if this is a periodic training unless you previously declined the Hepatitis B vaccine but have now changed your mind and wish to be vaccinated.
Paid employees may complete the Hepatitis B consent form to check your immunity status through a blood draw. If your immunity is absent, then you will be offered a dose of Hepatitis B vaccine.
If you are not a paid employee and wish to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine you will need to see your primary care physician, or if you are a MSU student you can schedule an appointment with Campus Health Services at 517-353-4660.
Go to Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) to check the Michigan Immunization Portal for Public.
Follow the Steps to retrieve your Immunization Record (if you are 18 years of age or older) include:
Visit MiLogin to create or sign in to your account.
Upload an image of one of the following identification forms: US Passport, Driver's License, or State ID.
Employees who work within three feet of human patients in a healthcare setting.
This covers MSU employees working in a healthcare setting that may be exposed to measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, pertussis, or influenza. This includes, but is not limited to, physicians, nurses, aides, dental workers, technicians, some workers in laboratories and morgues, emergency medical service (EMS) personnel, healthcare student employees, part-time personnel, and temporary staff.
Required monitoring/training:
Review of immunization record by University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health to review immunization record. Call 517-353-9137 to schedule. Please bring immunization and titer records to your appointment.
Resources:
Work in noisy areas at or above 85 decibels.
This covers MSU employees who work in an area that has been evaluated to be above 85 decibels. These employees should be scheduled for hearing testing by their department.
Initial hearing evaluations should be completed after hire and on an annual basis.
If you are concerned that your area needs to be evaluated, call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153 to arrange for a noise evaluation.
MSU Police must have initial hearing testing prior to placement; Call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137 to schedule an appointment.
Required monitoring/training:
Annual hearing testing
Complete Environmental Health and Safety Hearing Conservation Training
Drive a University vehicle that does not require a commercial driver’s license, but does require medical certification.
State of Michigan law requires that an employee obtain and carry a medical certification, irrespective of whether driving is an Incidental or Primary Duty, if they operate:
Vehicles: With a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)) of 10,001 pounds or more, but less than 26,000 pounds.
Combination Vehicles: Towing a trailer or other vehicles with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more.
Required monitoring/training:
Physical exam by University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health. Call 517-353-9137 to schedule. Please indicate if the employee works off campus.
Spray or mix organophosphates or carbamate insecticides.
This covers MSU employees that spray, handle, or potentially have significant exposure to pesticides, such as greenhouse workers, grounds employees, and farm workers who spray insecticides.
Contact your supervisor to inquire if you will be applying insecticides.
Supervisors should call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137 to determine if medical monitoring is appropriate.
Required monitoring/training:
Discussion about frequency and amount of exposure to determine if blood testing is advised.
Required monitoring/training:
Discussion about frequency and amount of exposure to determine if blood testing is advised.
Resources:
Organophosphate/Carbamate Letter: Summarizes the medical monitoring for MSU employees who mix or spray organophosphate or carbamate insecticides.
Organophosphate/Carbamate Questionnaire: Medical questionnaire for individuals who spray or handle organophosphate or carbamate insecticides.
List of carbamate insecticides registered for use in Michigan
List of organophosphate insecticides registered for use in Michigan
Physical demands testing is required for any employee (except students) in a physically intensive job before the employee may begin work.
Required monitoring/training:
Supervisor must complete the Physical Demands section of the Exposure to Health Risks Form, indicating the physical demands of the job.
Fax 517-355-0332 or email occhealth@msu.edu a copy of the completed form and a brief description of the job or posting to University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health.
Schedule the pre-placement physical demands testing by calling University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137.
The supervisor will be notified of any restrictions.
If an employee is physically incapable in any essential function, the supervisor should review the restriction to see if a reasonable accommodation can be made. Please call Staffing Services in Human Resources at 517-353-3720 for assistance. If it is determined that the candidate cannot perform the essential functions of the job with an accommodation, the job offer should be withdrawn.
Rabies risk is assigned to almost all employees who are exposed to cats, dogs, wild carnivores, some omnivores and ungulates, or unfixed necropsy of non-laboratory animals.
Required monitoring/training:
If you have not had at least two doses of rabies vaccine and want to get it, call 517-353-9137 to make an appointment.
If you have completed the rabies series but have not send in your information OR have chosen not to be vaccinated, please complete the Rabies Surveillance Record.
If you have already reported your rabies information and it has been at least two years since your last vaccine or titer, you may be due for a titer. Visit Occupational Health in Olin Health Center Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm.
Resources:
Wear a respirator (does not include paper dust mask worn for comfort).
Any MSU employee who works in an area or who may work in an area that requires respiratory protection must complete an initial respirator questionnaire and provide it to University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health. It will be reviewed prior to the employee being fitted for or using the respirator. Even if the respirator does not have to be fitted (ie, PAPR), the employee must still complete the respirator questionnaire.
After submitting the questionnaire, the employee may sign up for a fit test. Employees who wear a dust mask for comfort (sweeping floors or erasing chalk boards) do not need to comply with the requirements.
Required monitoring/training:
Completion of initial questionnaire and submission to University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health. Review of the questionnaire will determine additional follow-up.
If you need to be fit tested, click: respirator fit testing.
Resources:
Risks identified by Environmental Health and Safety, such as exposure to lead, chemotherapy, formaldehyde, asbestos, and more.
Please direct any questions to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153.
Work with Lead (defined as exposure at or above the action level of 30 μg/m^3 for more than 30 days per year)
This includes skilled trades engaged in aggressive activities including welding, torch cutting, or grinding on lead coatings. The EHS Lead Management Program provides more detail on this requirement.
Required monitoring/training:
Annual blood lead testing at University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health
Two-hour lead awareness training and annual refresher training is required.
Call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153 to arrange for initial training.
Work with asbestos (defined as 30 or more days a year)
MSU employees who work in an area involving levels of asbestos (including tremolite, anthophylite and actinolite) for 30 days or more a year at or above 0.1F/cc on a time-weighted average or those who must wear a respirator because of asbestos exposure. Operating departments should consult with EHS to determine whether their employees are eligible for medical surveillance. To arrange for medical monitoring, call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137. The MSU Asbestos Management plan provides more information regarding asbestos, including required training.
Required monitoring/training:
Annual medical monitoring at University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health
Receive 8, 16, 32 or 40 hours of asbestos training as detailed in the asbestos management plan. Call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153 to arrange.
Work with formaldehyde (defined as exposure at or above 0.5 parts per million for an 8-hour day or 2 parts per million for 15 minutes)
This includes some MSU employees in anatomy, pathology or histology labs. Other examples are the human and veterinary anatomy technicians, workers in the placenta lab, and some EHS employees. Generally, those who work with formaldehyde, or formalin in a fume hood, or who work with small quantities and have low exposures, do not meet the exposure criteria. For more information, call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153.
Required monitoring/training:
Annual medical monitoring at University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health
Work with hazardous waste (defined as exposure at or above the permissible exposure limits for a chemical(s) 30 days or more a year
Examples include EHS workers who pick up and consolidate hazardous waste and incinerator workers. It does not include employees that generate hazardous waste.
Required monitoring/training:
Biannual medical monitoring at University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health
Work with Ethylene oxide (defined as exposure at or above 1 part per million for an 8-hour day or 5 parts per million for 15 minutes)
Central Sterile Supply workers at the Clinical Center and the Veterinary Medical Center are the only known users of ethylene oxide and they have low exposures. Any use of ethylene oxide outside of a fume hood may have exposure above the limits. Currently there is no one in this program. For more information, call the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153.
Required monitoring/training:
Annual medical monitoring at University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health
Work with chemicals and routinely exposed to any chemical above the Occupational Safety Health Administration Standards, including pesticides
This covers any chemical covered by the OSHA standard. The department must check with EHS on a case-by-case basis. Any MSU laboratory worker exposed to a spill, leak, explosion, or who develops symptoms associated with routine work exposure to chemicals, can request an evaluation. Call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137 to make an evaluation.
Work with chemotherapeutic (anti-neoplastic) medications
This is a NON-required, voluntary program for MSU employees who mix or compound chemotherapeutic (anti-neoplastic) agents and/or administer the mediations intravenously. Individuals who choose to participate should call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137 to make an appointment to complete a questionnaire and have periodic blood and urine testing.
Work with any of the following carcinogens
Any MSU employee who works with the carcinogen(s) below must contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 517-355-0153 prior to any work with these materials:
2-Acetylaminofluorene
4-Aminodiphenyl
Benzidine
Bis-chloromethyl ether
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine(and salts)
4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
Ethyleneimine
Methyl chloromethyl ether
Alpha-naphthylamine
Beta-naphthylamine
4-Nitrobiphenyl
N-nitrosodimethylamine
Exposure is with or without respiratory protection devices. Laboratory workers do not routinely have significant exposures unless a spill or leak occurs. Significant exposures can occur if fume hoods, or containment devices fail, or if safe work practices are not followed. Using large quantities of volatile chemicals outside of a fume hood, or in confined or poorly ventilated areas may result in significant exposures.
Required monitoring/training:
To be determined based on evaluation by University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health and Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
TB risk is assigned to MSU employees that work within three feet of patients in a healthcare setting, work in a laboratory that handles TB specimens, and those that work in areas that evaluate TB suspects. It is also assigned to almost all MSU employees who work with cats, dogs, wild carnivores, some omnivores and ungulates, or unfixed necropsy of non-laboratory animals.
Required monitoring/training:
Baseline TB monitoring is required within the first 10 days of employment or start of risk for everyone in the situations above. Annual TB monitoring is required for those working in a moderate risk area. TB risk is assessed annually according to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Fax 517-355-0332 or email occhealth@msu.edu a copy of your TB information to University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health.
To schedule TB monitoring or if you have questions about your risk assignment, please call University Health and Wellbeing Occupational Health at 517-353-9137.
Resources:
Initial Questionnaire: Initial TB symptom monitor for employees with a previous reactive TB test.
Follow-up Questionnaire: Annual TB symptom monitor for employees with a previous reactive TB test.
Vaccine information resources.
Required monitoring/training:
Resources: Center for Disease Control Vaccine Information Statements
Employers’ requirements for reporting workplace injuries to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).
All employers must report:
All work-related fatalities within eight hours.
Work-related inpatient hospitalizations, including overnight hospitalized treatments within 24 hours.
Work-related amputations, including the loss of a limb or other external body part, and fingertip amputations with or without bone loss within 24 hours.
Work-related loss of an eye within 24 hours.
How to report an accident:
During business hours: Call the Office of the Environmental Health and Safety at 517-353-0153.
After business hours: Call MSU Police at 517-355-2221.
Information and resources for work related injuries for MSU employees.
Any injury arising out of and in the course of employment must be reported to the administrative head and Workers’ Compensation. All necessary medical services for a compensable injury will be delivered by a medical provider designated by the University. Full information is available from MSU Human Resources Workers’ Compensation.