Recommendations for Updating Occupational Health Questionnaire (OHQ) Content
Subcommittee recommendations include retaining and expanding the list of hazards and materials on the current OHQ, emphasizing task-related exposures and worker input. Bulletin 16-03 highlights the importance of linking medical conditions to specific tasks, suggesting revisions to meet standards. Additionally, suggestions involve adding task lists from BTMed and including specific questions on vapor, gas, dust, and fume exposures.
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SEM Subcommittee Recommendations for OHQ ABTSWH April 2017
We recommend retaining the list of hazards/exposures/materials on the current OHQ, and expanding that list by adding the list of hazards/materials from BTMed Ask how worker was exposed to each material with an emphasis on the tasks associated with the exposure, captured in free text The worker would also be asked to rate the frequency of exposure to each hazard, using the scale from BTMed questionnaire Assess if the worker used the material directly or was exposed as a bystander A focus on task is essential for application of Bulletin 16-03
Bulletin 16-03: Direct disease link work process Bulletin 16 03 describes the direct disease link work process, to link medical conditions to specific tasks. Data supplied by an employee or survivor in an occupational history or other personal statements can be accepted as reliable when sufficient detail or other information is provided that documents the scope and type of work performed The subcommittee believes that the OHQ, if revised as recommended, would meet this standard.
We recommend adding the list of tasks that we have in BTMed, even knowing that it is incomplete. The committee discussed the feasibility of creating a list of tasks for production workers similar to what BTMed uses for construction workers but felt that would be almost impossible given the wide range of tasks over the years in the DOE complex. This alternative, of getting a more detailed occupational history from each worker, will provide the comparable information.
The committee recommends adding a specific question regarding vapors, gases, dusts and fumes (VGDF) The question: Have you been exposed to vapors, gases, dusts and fumes in your work at DOE? If the answer is yes , the worker should be asked about frequency of exposure to VGDF overall using the same scale recommended above. If the answer is yes the worker is then asked Have you already reported all exposures to vapors, gases, dust and fumes in your answers above? If not, elicit additional information Since it is necessary to assess VGDF exposure outside of the DOE complex (see COPD presumption for rationale), the worker should be asked to describe how he/she was exposed to same or similar materials in work prior to or after DOE work.
We recommend that the version of the OHQ developed in response to these recommendations be pre-tested for ease of use and face validity.
