Medical surveillance for emergency responders falls under which federal regulation?

Medical surveillance for emergency responders is governed by the federal regulation outlined in 29 CFR 1910.120, which pertains to the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards. This regulation mandates that employers provide medical surveillance for workers who are exposed to hazardous substances during cleanup operations, emergency response, and other hazardous duties.

The significance of this regulation is that it establishes a framework for protecting the health and safety of emergency responders by ensuring they receive appropriate medical evaluations and monitoring. The requirement for medical surveillance helps identify any potential health issues resulting from exposure to hazardous materials early on, allowing for timely interventions and safeguards.

Other regulations do not specifically address medical surveillance for emergency responders in the same context. For instance, 30 CFR 850 relates to the coal mining industry, 40 CFR 300 focuses on the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), and 29 CFR 1910.134 deals specifically with respiratory protection, rather than broader medical surveillance practices.