CHAPTER 9

 

                                             HEALTH AND SAFETY

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

The purpose of this chapter is to ensure that applicants and employees meet the health and physical requirements for the efficient performance of their duties.   In addition, this chapter is to develop a safe and healthful environment for employees and for the public when using the Hospital’s facilities, by establishing/maintaining and properly supervising an active safety and health program tailored to meet the needs of the organizations.

 

9.000           MEDICAL STANDARDS

 

9.001 Establishment of Medical Standards

 

Medical standards shall include, but need not be limited to, pre‑entry medical examinations, medical re‑evaluations, the method of administration of medical examinations, and the consequences of failure to meet health and physical condition requirements.

 

The Administrator is authorized to establish medical standards in order to:

                                                     

A.      Ensure that persons seeking employment with the Hospital meet the health and physical requirements necessary for the safe and efficient performance of the duties of the class of position in which they seek employment, and can continue to meet the health and physical requirements for a reasonable period of time.

B.      Ensure that each employee is able to perform the duties of his position satisfactorily and without undue hazard or imminent threat to himself or others or without undue hardship on the operation of the program.

C.      After making a conditional job offer and before an individual starts work, the Administrator may request a medical examination or ask health-related questions, provided that all candidates who receive a conditional job offer in the same job category are required to take the same examination and/or respond to the same inquiries.

 

 

 

9.002   Types of Employment Medical Examinations

 

The Administrator is authorized to require three types of medical examinations:

 

A.      Pre-entry

 

Pre‑entry physical examinations shall be required of all persons prior to initial probational appointment to the position or prior to transferring into the Hospital from other government agencies. 

 

The Hospital shall perform the following laboratory test:  Tuberculosis Skin Test (PPD);Hepatitis B Surface antigen (HBSAG); Hepatitis C Virus (HCV); Anti-Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (ANTI-HBSAG); Rapid Plasma Reagent (RPR); Urinalysis(UA)and Drug Test.  For employees hired in the Dietary department; Stool for OVA and Parasite (O&P) is required.

 

B.      Periodic/Intermittent Examination

                                     

                              Periodic medical examinations may be required by the Administrator of any employee whose nature of work is such that his/her exposure to the elements and/or health hazards may require an intermittent medical examination.  The intervals of the periodic medical examinations shall be determined by the Administrator on the basis of recommendations by the Employee Health department and/or the concerned department head and/or division manager. 

 

                              Intermittent medical examinations of all employees is required upon the employee’s anniversary date.   The Employee Health department shall ensure that employees are notified at least 30 days prior to the employee’s anniversary date.  The examination should include the following test.         

1.             Mantoux intradermal skin test

2.             Rubella

3.             Chicken Pox (Varicella Zoster)

4.             Hepatitis B             

 

C.      Special

                            

Special medical examinations may be authorized by the Administrator upon the request of the department head and/or Division Manager for the following reasons:

 

1.     To determine/confirm an employee’s physical/psychological capability to continue performing satisfactorily in his/her assigned duties or

 

2.     To determine/confirm an employee’s physical/psychological capability to assume a more strenuous, demanding work assignment, or

 

3.     To evaluate an employee’s employment status, if he/she is physically or psychologically disabled.  It will also assist the Hospital in making a determination or recommendation for medical retirement for the employee, should his/her disability be permanent and total.

 

                              Medical examination of this nature shall be paid by the Hospital.

                            

                  

9.003 Administration of Employment Medical Examinations

 

Medical examinations shall be administered by a licensed physician or other licensed professional on forms prescribed by the Administrator. The examination form shall request a medical determination of the individual's fitness for employment in the class of position.  For special medical examinations, forms shall provide a means for recommendations by the examining physician or licensed professional, as to whether the individual employee should be retired or placed in other employment more suited to his physical or mental condition and ability and for which the employee can perform the essential function of the job.

 

9.004   Temporary Medical Exemptions (Physical Waivers)

 

The department head/division manager may request the Administrator for a temporary physical waiver for position relating to the critical need of licensed healthcare professionals.  The Administrator may determine that a position must be filled immediately, making it impossible to complete the medical examination prior to appointment.  In these unusual cases, the Administrator may temporarily waive the medical examination, provided that the medical examination is completed at the earliest possible date and in no instance, later than 30 days after the appointment.

 

 If the employee fails to complete the examination within 30 days and for compelling circumstances the employee may request in writing an extension of up to 90 days.  If the employee fails to render the complete physical within the 90th day, the Administrator shall terminate the appointment. 

 

The Employee Health section shall ensure that employees with physical waivers are followed up and reported to the Human Resources Division for appropriate action.

 

 

          9.100                   PLACEMENT OF EMPLOYEES WHO BECOME MEDICALLY      NON-QUALIFIED

 

9.101 General Provisions

 

A.      The provisions of this section shall apply to hospital employees who become medically non‑qualified and to employees with a service‑connected disability.

 

                    B.       It is the responsibility of the Hospital to assure, to the extent possible, the continued employment of employees who become disabled as a result of an injury, accident or illness that is not a result of misconduct or who are found to be medically non‑qualified for their present position, but who are medically qualified for other types of positions within the Hospital.     

                  

C.      The employee shall be examined at the expense of the Hospital by a government or private physician or physicians, in such field or fields of medicine and/or psychiatry as may be applicable to evaluate the employee's qualifications for his present position, or assess his current physical and emotional capacities and/or evaluate his qualifications for a vacancy for which he is being considered under the provisions of this section.

 

                    D.       Employees affected by this rule shall be considered for those vacancies for which they qualify.

 

E.      In the placement of an employee with a disability, the Hospital shall consider the following:

 

1.       The ability of the employee to safely perform the essential functions of the position without undue interruption to the work program and/or undue hardship on the operations of the program.

 

2.       The ability of the employee to absorb any required training or re‑training; and

 

3.                 The mutual interest of both the Hospital and the employee.

 

F.       If demotion is involved, whether or not initiated by the employee, he shall be compensated in accordance with Rule 6.005.

 

9.102   Placement of Employees with Disabilities

 

A.      After medical, physical, or psychological re‑evaluation, an employee who is no longer qualified to perform the duties of his position satisfactorily within a stated reasonable period of time and in spite of reasonable accommodations due to permanent medical physical or mental incapacity, the Administrator shall take the following action (provided the employee is qualified and able to perform the new duties within the limitations established by the rules and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)):

 

                   1.       Transfer the employee to an equivalent position elsewhere in the Hospital organizational structure; or

 

                   2.       Placement of the employee consistent with Chapter 4; or

 

                   3.       If no equivalent position is available, reassign the employee to a lower graded position, without loss of pay for two (2) years, elsewhere in the Hospital.

 

 

 

9.103  Reasonable Accommodation

 

Every effort shall be made by the Administrator to provide reasonable accommodations to assure continued employment.

 

9.104 Termination of Employment

 

The  Administrator shall terminate the employment of the employee:

 

A.      If no suitable placement can be made or if the employee refuses placement in a suitable position.

 

B.      If the employee refuses or is ineligible for retirement.

 

C.      If the Administrator has evidence that the employee is permanently disabled from performing the job, or will be disabled for a long time that termination is necessary in light of demonstrated business realities.

 

Such termination shall be consistent with the Adverse Action Procedures, Chapter 11.

 

 

9.200           SAFETY STANDARDS

 

The minimum safety standards shall be those as established in the Occupational Safety and Health Code (Chapter 87, Title 10 of the GCA) and administered by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of Department of Labor.