Document RaMaQbNL0vpo6D4DN4LeaaXEz

t ! Interoffice Communication TO: Safety Directors tipt: TSS-./fRg KF: -- CONFIDENTIAL < FROM: T. G. Grumbles , J. R. Drumwright, M.D. DATE: September 21, 1984 SUBJ: VISTA MEDICAL STATUS FOR RESPIRATOR USE POLICY VISITS Enclosed is a draft of the policy we discussed at the Industrial Hygiene Meeting in June. This policy will also be reviewed by employee relations to assure consistency with other policies dealing with job requirements and potential disabilities. It is Dr. Drumwright' s experience, from review of selected medical records, that the potential for a person being judged medically unable to wear a respirator is small. The policy covers new hires as well as current employees to assure all affected employees in the plant have a documented determination on file. It will be the plant's responsibility to identify the affected persons to be included under the policy. Basically, these people are those routinely wearing respiratory protection, or specifically required to wear respiratory protection during non-routine events such as emergency response or fire-fighting. Also attached is a recent article dealing with this issue. I urge you to read this article to clarify the risks involved in respirator use. Once approved, several issues would still have to be resolved from an implementation and procedural standpoint. These include reimbursement policy, if any, for those not using the van, and questionnaire administration. Enclosure cc Plant Managers Jim Carter R. D. Gamblin W. L. McClain VVV 0000004*59