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Respiratory health services reported by U.S. mining facilities in the National Occupational Health Survey of Mining (1984–1989)
Author(s) -
Linch Kenneth D.,
Groce Dennis W.,
Hale Janet M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199609)30:3<273::aid-ajim4>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational medicine , health examination , environmental health , work (physics) , medical surveillance , occupational safety and health , physical examination , family medicine , occupational exposure , surgery , pathology , mechanical engineering , engineering
This report describes the involvement of mine management personnel at U.S. mines in providing environmental and medical services related to respiratory health. The data were obtained by means of a questionnaire that was administered to mine management personnel at 491 mines and mills during May 1984 to August 1989. The data indicate that 62% of U.S. miners worked at facilities that provided at least a portion of workers with chest X‐rays, and 41% worked at facilities that provided at least a portion of workers with pulmonary function tests. Eighty‐five percent of miners worked at facilities in which the company required a medical examination of all new employees; the majority were required by company policy to have a medical examination before returning to work after an illness. However, only 2% of miners were required by company policy to have an exit medical examination when their employment ended. This report underscores the need for respiratory health to remain a primary concern of all persons who provide occupational health services to miners. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.