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Background
Whenever a person dies on the
job, or if a worker claims that an injury or illness was caused by a
hazard on the job, Cal/OSHA must determine whether the incident, injury or
illness is actually work-related. This not only helps safeguard workers’
rights to a safe and healthy workplace; it also provides valuable
information that helps employers implement effective health and safety
programs and increases our understanding of occupational health and safety
problems.
Sometimes it is not that easy to tell if an incident, injury or illness
was caused by a person’s work. For example, many symptoms of overexposure
to chemicals and other workplace hazards can also be caused by
non-work-related illnesses and health problems. HESIS physicians work with
Cal/OSHA industrial hygienists and other staff to evaluate workers’
complaints of illness and injury and employers’ reports of worker
fatalities and serious illnesses. HESIS provides medical opinions to Cal/OSHA
about the incidents and develops prevention-based recommendations to
assist employers in protecting the health and safety of their workers.
Over the years, HESIS has
assisted Cal/OSHA in evaluating incidents such as fatalities in
agriculture and construction due to heat stress, ergonomic injuries
reported by grocery warehouse workers and office workers, and pulmonary
illness related to cement exposure.
Purpose
To assist Cal/OSHA in determining whether
illnesses, injuries, and fatalities are work-related, and to develop
recommendations to help employers prevent future work-related incidents.
Activities
- Review information related to the incident, including Cal/OSHA
reports, workers’ medical records (with their consent), and medical and
scientific data;
- Conduct worksite visits with Cal/OSHA staff to review potential
hazards and exposures;
- Interview affected workers, medical staff, and other key persons who
can provide information relevant to evaluating the case;
- Provide a written medical opinion to Cal/OSHA regarding the
relationship of work to the injury, illness or fatality based on a
rigorous assessment of available information;
- Provide recommendations and resources to help employers protect
against future illnesses, injuries, or fatalities.
Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service
(HESIS) home page
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