DFRS

POLICES & PROCEDURES
Department Of Fire & Rescue Services
Montgomery County, MD

MEDICAL
EXAMINATIONS


 
 
No. 509
April 9, 1992

PURPOSE
1.0 To establish the policy for medical examinations with the Occupational Medical Section in order to ensure that each employee is physically able to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job class to which assigned. This program is designed to detect early medical problems and provide the Department with a medical opinion when it appears that an employee's medical condition may adversely affect job performance.

APPLICABILITY
2.0 All DFRS personnel in the Fire Protection Occupational Series.

DEFINITIONS
3.0 Periodic Physical - Complete physical examination including hearing, pulmonary function testing, blood chemistry profile, urinalysis, chest x-ray (as necessary), vision testing (acuity and field), resting EKG, medical history and sub-maximal (90%) stress testing.
3.1 Safety Surveillance - Annual testing of hearing, pulmonary function and medical history in accordance with approved OSHA Standards.

POLICY
4.0 All uniformed employees of DFRS are assigned specific medical standards and requirements based upon the physical and mental demands of the job. Each employee will be given a physical examination on a regular basis as outlined herein.
4.1 All uniformed employees will be scheduled for a safety surveillance examination each year. In addition, complete periodic physical examinations will be scheduled as follows:
  1. Age 40 and older - Not less than one complete periodic physical every year.

  2. Age 30-39 - Not less than one complete periodic physical every two years.

  3. Age 29 and under - Not less than one complete periodic physical every three years.
  4. Any uniformed employees with a reported medical or hazardous exposure may receive a complete physical examination every year or as otherwise appropriate.

4.2 All uniformed employees scheduled for a periodic physical or safety surveillance testing will be administered an audiometric test per OSHA regulation. Fourteen hours prior to that test it is necessary to avoid high levels of noise. Hearing protectors may be used as substitute for avoiding high noise levels. Avoidance of high noise levels for fourteen hours applies to both workplace noise, as well as non-occupational noise exposure.
4.3 All uniformed employees scheduled for a periodic physical examination must fast for twelve (12) hours prior to their scheduled exam.
4.4 Compensation for off duty physical examinations will be for three (3) hours. In the event an employee remains longer than three (3) hours for a medical examination, a written explanation will be obtained by the employee from Occupational Medical Section. The explanation will be attached to the overtime request form supporting any additional compensation requested in excess of the three (3) hour limit. Every effort will be made to schedule all physical examinations during regularly scheduled shifts only.
4.5 Employees notified by the Occupational Medical Section that they are not fit for full duty will notify the Senior Career Officer immediately and will not resume full duty until so resolved.

RESPONSIBILITY
5.0 5.0 Each Bureau Chief will designate one or more persons to schedule required physical examinations and safety surveillance tests for each employee with the County's Occupational Medical Section, and for notifying the employee of the scheduled appointment at least 72 hours in advance.

PROCEDURE
6.0 The scheduling of new hires and preselects for physical examinations will be performed by the Department of Fire/Rescue Services.
6.1 Safety surveillance tests will be scheduled by the Bureau Chief's designee(s) each year on or around the employee's assigned medical evaluation date. Exceptions will be for these employees also required to take a full periodic physical within the same year. Safety Surveillance examinations will be scheduled during regularly scheduled shifts.
6.2 Each month, the Occupational Medical Section will provide the Director with a list of employees who should be scheduled for a periodic physical the following month. That list will be forwarded to the appropriate Bureau Chief, whose designee(s) will schedule the exam.
6.3 An employee who is unable to keep a scheduled examination appointment will contact the Senior Career Officer to request a new date. Except in emergency situations, all notifications of anticipated inability to keep a scheduled appointment will be made at least 72 hours before the appointment.
6.4 An employee scheduled for a full periodic examination during off-duty hours will be eligible for overtime compensation per applicable Department policy.
6.5 The pass/fail results of physical examinations will be sent to the Senior Career Officer through the Director. Copies will be sent to the employee and to his/her personnel file.

CANCELLATION
7.0 DFRS Policy #509, "Medical Examinations," issued January 16, 1988 is hereby rescinded.