Who is covered: Exposed at/above the AL on 30+ days/year or above PEL/STEL on 10+ days/year; physician-identified at-risk employees who request inclusion; emergencies [5202(j)(1)(A)-(C)]
Evaluation performed by: Physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)
🩺 Baseline / Pre-Placement
Before initial assignment
- Standardized medical/work history questionnaire — neurological symptoms, skin conditions, hematologic/liver disease history, cardiac risk factors [5202(j)(5)]
- Physical examination emphasizing lungs, cardiovascular system (BP/pulse), liver, nervous system, skin
- Laboratory studies at PLHCP discretion — carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), ECG, hematocrit, liver function tests, total cholesterol
🕒 Periodic / Routine
Interval-based while covered — NOT result-triggered
Schedule: Age-stratified: employees aged 45 or older every 12 months; employees under 45 every 36 months [5202(j)(4)(B)].
- Updated medical/work history (standardized questionnaire)
- Physical examination emphasizing lungs, cardiovascular, liver, nervous system, skin
- Laboratory studies at PLHCP discretion — carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), ECG, hematocrit, liver function tests, total cholesterol
🚪 Exit / Termination
Termination of employment or reassignment out of MC exposure
- Termination medical examination — provided if 6 or more months have elapsed since the last MC examination
- Updated history and physical examination
⚠ Emergency / Post-Exposure
Emergency exposure
- Decontamination
- Comprehensive examination emphasizing nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, and dermal systems
- Updated history; laboratory studies as indicated (carboxyhemoglobin / CO assessment)
Abnormal results & exposure-event protocols
Abnormal Results & Exposure-Event Protocols
- PLHCP recommends removal because continued MC exposure may aggravate existing cardiac/hepatic/neurological/dermal disease 8 CCR 5202(j)(11): Transfer to comparable work (≤ action level) or remove from MC exposure; maintain earnings/seniority/benefits up to 6 months. Tests: Follow-up examination at PLHCP-recommended frequency to determine return eligibility
Reporting Requirements
| Who performs the evaluation | Physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) |
|---|---|
| Reported to employer | Written opinion on whether MC exposure may aggravate existing cardiac/hepatic/neurological/dermal disease and any recommended exposure/respirator limitations; must not reveal records/findings unrelated to occupational MC exposure. |
| Reported to / for the employee | Employee informed MC is a potential occupational carcinogen, of cardiac risk factors, and of examination results and any MC-related conditions. |
| Time limits | Written opinion within 15 days of evaluation, no more than 30 days after examination (mirroring federal). |
| Second-opinion / multi-physician review | Multiple-health-care-professional review mechanism mirroring federal (second PLHCP of employee's choice; jointly designated specialist as definitive determination). |
| Recordkeeping | Medical records retained for the duration of employment plus 30 years (8 CCR 3204). |
Medical Removal Protection
Removal/transfer on PLHCP recommendation with earnings/seniority/benefits maintained up to 6 months [5202(j)(11)] — equivalent to federal.