Who is covered: All employees employed in a regulated area at least 30 days/year [1910.1029(j)(1)(i)]
Evaluation performed by: Licensed physician (employer-selected)
🩺 Baseline / Pre-Placement
At initial assignment to a regulated area [1910.1029(j)(2)]
- Work and medical history including smoking history and presence/degree of respiratory symptoms (breathlessness, cough, sputum production, wheezing)
- 14×17 (or other reasonably-sized) standard-film or digital PA chest X-ray (no ILO classification mandated federally)
- Pulmonary function test — FVC and FEV1.0
- Weight measurement
- Skin examination
- Urinalysis (sugar, albumin, hematuria)
- Urinary cytology examination [1910.1029(j)(2)(vii)]
🕒 Periodic / Routine
Interval-based while covered — NOT result-triggered
Schedule: At least annually for the general regulated-area workforce [1910.1029(j)(3)(i)]. At least annually (NOT every 6 months) for employees 45+ years old OR with 5+ years employment in the regulated area, whose annual exam ADDS urinary cytology [1910.1029(j)(3)(ii)]. Both groups are annual federally.
- Work and medical history including smoking history and presence/degree of respiratory symptoms (breathlessness, cough, sputum production, wheezing)
- 14×17 (or other reasonably-sized) standard-film or digital PA chest X-ray (no ILO classification mandated federally)
- Pulmonary function test — FVC and FEV1.0
- Weight measurement
- Skin examination
- Urinalysis (sugar, albumin, hematuria)
- Urinary cytology — added annually for employees 45+ or with 5+ years in the regulated area
Reporting Requirements
| Who performs the evaluation | Licensed physician (employer-selected) |
|---|---|
| Reported to employer | Written opinion limited to: the results of the medical examination and tests; any detected medical condition that would place the employee at increased risk from coke-oven-emission exposure; recommended exposure/PPE limitations; and a statement that the employee has been informed of the results and any condition requiring further examination or treatment. Unrelated findings must not be revealed [1910.1029(j)(5)(i)]. |
| Reported to / for the employee | Employer provides a copy of the written opinion to the affected employee; the employee is informed of the exam results and any condition requiring further evaluation. |
| Time limits | The standard does not specify an explicit deadline for furnishing the copy of the written opinion to the employee (see unverified note). |
| Second-opinion / multi-physician review | No formal multiple-physician review mechanism specified. |
| Recordkeeping | Medical records retained for at least 40 years, or for the duration of employment plus 20 years, whichever is longer [1910.1029(m)(2)(iii)]. |
Medical Removal Protection
No medical removal protection scheme; physician's written opinion conveys results, increased-risk findings, and exposure/PPE limitations.