Medical and exposure records

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires maintaining medical and exposure records under 1910.1020. The standard covers records documenting the amount of employee exposure to toxic substances and harmful physical agents. This section applies to all employers who have employees exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents that may include:

• Metals and dusts such as lead, cadmium, and silica.
• Biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
• Physical stress such as noise, heat, cold, vibration, repetitive motion, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

Employees who are or may be exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents must be given access to their medical and exposure records. This access is designed to improve the detection, treatment, and prevention of occupational disease. Further, OSHA requires that employers maintain such records for a long period of time because the symptoms of illnesses that come from the exposure may not appear until many years later.