Last Revised: July 14, 2026
Medical screening and surveillance programs use collection, analysis, and evaluation of health data of employees who are exposed,or have the potential to be exposed, to specific occupational hazards. The primary goal of these programs is prevention. Programs are designed to detect early signs of work-related illness or injury before permanent damage occurs, and to evaluate whether a workplace's exposure controls (like ventilation or personal protective equipment) are actually working. Medical screening detects disease or dysfunction before an individual would normally seek medical care. Screening tests are usually administered to individuals without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain adverse health outcomes. Medical surveillance analyzes health information to look for problems that may be occurring in the workplace that require targeted prevention.
An employee's inclusion in these programs is determined by health and safety surveys, task evaluations, or regulatory requirements. (For example, OSHA mandates medical surveillance if an employee is exposed to specific hazards above an established "action level" for a certain amount of time.)
Common Triggers for Medical Screening or Surveillance
An employee may need to participate in a program if their work involves any of the following:
- Animal Research: Working directly with laboratory animals.
- Asbestos Hazard: Potential exposure to asbestos fibers.
- Biological Hazards: Working with bloodborne and other pathogens.
- Methylene Chloride: Working with methylene chloride above an action or 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) limit.
- High Noise Levels: Exposure to sound levels that exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA.
- Respirator Use: Wearing respiratory protection on the job.
What Programs May Include
Depending on the specific workplace hazard, medical screening and surveillance can involve:
- Workplace exposure monitoring
- Health history questionnaires
- Routine physical examinations
- Diagnostic testing (such as X-rays or hearing tests)
- Preventative vaccinations
Medical Screening and Surveillance Programs
Health risks when working with or around animals include allergies, zoonoses, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. Occupational Health training and a medical questionnaire are required for research personnel working with animals on an ARIES protocol and those working near or around animals for compliance with NIH-OLAW and accreditation associations (AAALAC). The Annual User Personal Safety Assurance (AUPSA) training and survey assess whether or not faculty, staff or students are at-risk for developing animal allergies or other health-related concerns because they work with or around animals greater than 5 hours a week at Penn. Based on survey responses, you are cleared for work with animals or are required to visit Occupational Medicine or Student Wellness. If you are at risk and decide to decline a medical appointment, you must fill out a declination form.
Exposure to asbestos has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancer, and asbestosis. Medical surveillance is provided for all employees who are or will be exposed to asbestos at or above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air). All examinations and procedures will be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, at a reasonable time and place, and at no cost to the employee.
Pathogens are biological agents that can cause disease. Agents are classified into risk groups. To prevent or reduce pathogen transmission various controls are used, including vaccination and respiratory protection. These measures may require medical evaluation or clearance. Researchers handling specific agents, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or certain bloodborne pathogens (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B), require baseline and periodic medical surveillance, which can include immunizations (like Hepatitis B vaccines), and symptom monitoring. Additional information can be found in the Bloodborne Pathogens policy.
Methylene chloride (MC) is a volatile, colorless solvent that has acute and chronic health hazards and is a suspected human carcinogen. At low exposures methylene chloride can cause irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract and has central nervous system (CNS) effects. High concentrations of MC may cause nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, breathing problems, unconsciousness and even death. Medical surveillance is required if there is:
- Exposure above the action level for more than 30 days a year,
- Exposure at or above the 8-hour TWA for 10 or more days a year, or
- Respirators are required.
Additional information can be found on the Methylene Chloride Page.
Exposure to noise can cause temporary hearing shifts and loss of hearing. Faculty and staff exposed to an eight-hour time-weighted-average (TWA) noise level greater than 85 dBA, or impact noise greater than 140 dBA, are enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program and must be offered baseline and annual audiometric testing.
Additional information can be found on the Hearing Conservation Program page.
Respirators protect users in two ways. First by the removal of contaminants from the air. Respirators of this type include particulate respirators, which filter out airborne particles, and air-purifying respirators with cartridges/canisters which filter out chemicals and gases. Other respirators protect by supplying clean respirable air from another source. Respirators that fall into this category include airline respirators, which use compressed air from a remote source, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which include their own air supply. When respiratory protection is required, faculty, staff and students are enrolled in the Respiratory Protection Program. Before wearing a respirator, workers must be medically evaluated using the mandatory medical questionnaire.