SAFETY/INFORMATION--Medical Surveillance Program Agreement with the U.S. Public Health Service 

In Reply Refer To:                      September 29, 1989
WGS-Mail Stop 412



OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 89.07

Subject:  SAFETY/INFORMATION--Medical Surveillance Program 
             Agreement with the U.S. Public Health Service

Current Water Resources Division (WRD) policy (WRD Memorandum 
87.24) requires employees involved in collecting hydrologic 
data at hazardous-waste sites to have medical tests before, 
during, and after working on-site.  The New Jersey District 
has negotiated an interagency agreement with the U.S. Public 
Health Service, Division of Federal Occupational Health, that 
meets the personnel monitoring requirements of WRD Memorandum 
87.24.  Enclosed for your information are the following 
attachments:  

     Attachment 1.--The Interagency Agreement,
     Attachment 2.--A list of Public Health Service Regional 
                    Offices, and
     Attachment 3.--A copy of WRD Memorandum 87.24.

Discussions with the New Jersey District suggest that the 
U.S. Public Health Services is a cost-effective resource, 
provided (1) four or more persons are involved in medical 
surveillance, (2) a public health facility is within a 
reasonable traveling distance, and (3) an agreement can be 
executed with the U.S. Public Health Service.  In the New 
Jersey case, the Belle Mead Depot, New Jersey Health Unit, 
had ongoing agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency and the U.S. General Services Administration which 
simplified communication leading to the current successful 
agreement.  

The benefits of the U.S. Public Health Service approach are 
that (1) an interagency agreement eliminates the need for 
contracting, (2) the costs are lower, and (3) occupational 
health physicians conduct the exams and are available for 
advice on hazards associated with unusual toxic substances.

Any office interested in pursuing a contract with the 
U.S. Public Health Service may wish to obtain additional 
information by calling the New Jersey District Safety 
Officer, James G. Carcaci, at FTS 609-771-3911.




                          David A. Rickert
                          Chief, Office of Water Quality

3 Attachments

This memorandum does not supersede any existing memorandum.

Key words:  Safety, medical surveillance, hazardous waste

WRD Distribution:  District Chiefs
                   Regional Hydrologists, NR, SR, CR, WR