MEDICAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SERVICE

INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

Medical health surveillance is the systematic and periodic assessment of an employee’s health status following exposure to chemicals hazardous to health (CHTH), noise, or other workplace hazards.

For noise-exposed workers, medical health surveillance is triggered when audiometric testing identifies an abnormal audiogram. For chemical-exposed workers, it is triggered by the Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) findings. In both cases, the program protects workers from progressive occupational disease while keeping employers compliant with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

OBJECTIVES OF MEDICAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

Medical health surveillance protects workers exposed to hazardous substances while keeping employers compliant with Malaysian law. Key objectives include:

• Detect early signs of noise-induced hearing loss in workers flagged by audiometric testing.
• Detects early signs of occupational disease in workers exposed to chemicals hazardous to health.
• Establish baseline health records for new hires before exposure begins (pre-placement examination).
• Confirm fitness to work, including fitness to wear hearing protectors, respirators, and other PPE.

WHEN IS MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE REQUIRED

Medical surveillance is triggered by two main pathways in Malaysia: an abnormal audiogram identified during workplace audiometric testing, or exposure findings from a Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA). The most common triggers are listed below.

• An abnormal audiogram is identified during workplace audiometric testing, as determined by the Occupational Health Doctor (OHD).
• Worker exposure to a chemical hazardous to health at or above 50% of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).
• Skin absorption risk identified in the CHRA, regardless of airborne exposure level.
• A CHRA assessor, OHD, or DOSH directive specifically recommends medical surveillance for the work unit.

WHAT OUR MEDICAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM INCLUDES

• Pre-Placement Medical Examination
• Audiometric Follow-Up Examination
• Biological Monitoring (BM) and Biological Effect
• Monitoring (BEM) Periodic Medical Examination
• Return-to-Work and Exit Examination
• Reports, Records, and DOSH Notifications

INDUSTRIES THAT WE SERVE

• Manufacturing and Heavy Industry: High-noise machinery, metalworks, and welding operations with hearing loss risk.
• Chemical and Petrochemical Manufacturing: Workers exposed to solvents, acids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Semiconductor and Electronics Assembly: Combined exposure to heavy metals, etchants, process gases, and equipment noise.
• Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Production: Active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulation handling, and cleanroom operations.
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing: Sanitizers, preservatives, cleaning agent exposure, and high-noise packaging or processing lines.