Occupational Medicine Program Overview

PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

The University of Florida Occupational Medicine Program (OCCMED) is structured to identify and monitor personal health conditions that may not be consistent with the safe conduct standards for University-related activities. No faculty, staff, student or volunteer covered by program policies will be allowed to initiate or continue activities in the area of concern until they satisfactorily meet applicable medical criteria.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for the development of policy and central administration of the University of Florida Occupational Medicine Program. It also manages the tracking of all employees in the program and coordinates the billing for Program costs.

The Student Health Care Center is responsible for medical aspects including maintenance of medical records.

Human Resource Services is responsible for assisting with the implementation of the preplacement health assessment program.

Individual departments and supervisors are responsible for the inclusion of employees within their departments.

Each individual employee is responsible for compliance with University safety policy and participation in a medical monitoring program if established.

PROGRAM COVERAGE

The Occupational Medicine Program encompasses several areas:

• Preplacement health assessments are for applicants who have accepted an offer of employment for a position whose duties are included in the OCCMED Program and current employees whose job duties have changed and now covered under the Program;
• Periodic medical monitoring for current employees;
• Job-related employee injuries;
• University health crisis situations.

Health assessments protect the safety and health of the individual and of employees, students and the general public with whom the individual may come in contact in the course of their duties. The assessments also establish a baseline record. Health assessments cover work in certain known risk situations that is governed by federal, state or local standards. Health assessments are linked to the duties of a position.

Preplacement health assessments are scheduled by the individual's department with the Student Health Care Center.  One exception is for the new employee of an IFAS unit located in another area of the state, in which case the unit administrator will schedule the exam with a local physician.

An employment action, i.e. new hire, promotion or transfer will not be processed until the applicant satisfies applicable preplacement health assessment criteria.

Periodic medical monitoring continues from the preplacement health assessment for selected categories that require health assessments at varying periods of time. Current employees will be identified for periodic health assessments by the individual's department and tracked by the Division of Environmental Health and Safety. The major areas that include periodic medical monitoring are animal contact, asbestos, commercial driver license, contact with human blood, patient contact, work with pesticides, use of respirators, scientific research diving and work in areas of excessive noise.

Job-related employee injuries are also covered under the Occupational Medicine Program. The University must provide medical attention for employees injured in the line of duty. Primary cost recovery is obtained from the state Worker's Compensation Program.

During a University health crisis situation, the University needs the full support of an occupational medicine program. This portion of the Program would address an unforeseen health condition which would be outside of the services addressed by the regular health assessments or situations involving an isolated job-related employee injury.

PROGRAM OPERATION

Environmental Health and Safety and the Student Health Care Center manage the Occupational Medicine Program.   Individuals identified by their department for preplacement health assessments may also be tracked in a periodic medical monitoring program if their job duties fall under one of the specified programs. 

The department schedules required health assessments with the Student Health Care Center unless the employee is located at an IFAS unit in another area of the state. In the latter case, the unit administrator shall schedule the exam with a local physician. Once the exam has been conducted, the results will be forwarded to the SHCC for review.

PROGRAM FUNDING

Finance and Administration covers the charges made by the Student Health Care Center (SHCC) when a department fills a non-academic vacancy.  Individual colleges and departments cover the charges for all other health assessments.  For the latter, Purchase Order or P-Card information must be provided to the SHCC.  Please see the SHCC Billing Information for more information.

PROGRAM PERSONNEL

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (ph: 352 392-1591)

• William Properzio, PhD, Director
• Grace Dixon, MEd, Coordinator, Occupational Medicine Program

STUDENT HEALTH CARE CENTER (ph:  352 392-1161 x 1-4212)

• Phillip Barkley, MD, Director
• Boyd Kellett, MD
• Anthony Mennella, PAC
• Margaret Berry, RN

EH&S PROGRAM CONTACTS (ph:  352 392-1591)

• Animal Contact: Karen Gillis, MS, RBP
• Asbestos: Thomas Ladun, CIH, CSP
• Bloodborne Pathogen Program: Karen Gillis, MS, RBP
• Diving Science and Safety: Cheryl Thacker, BS
• Hearing Conservation: Melissa Crowder, CIH
• Pesticide Use: Melissa Crowder, CIH
• Respirator Use: Melissa Crowder, CIH