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How a Medical Clearance is Conducted: OSHA requires that a worker be medically cleared to wear
respiratory protection. measure lung volume and flow and is a good indicator of whether a person would experience difficulty using respiratory protective equipment. If the results of the person’s PFT show a forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity greater than 70%, the person is medically cleared and can proceed on with the respirator fit test. Vallen’s Strengths and Capabilities: All Vallen OHS technicians who conduct PFT's and administer the questionnaire have completed a NIOSH certification course. We use state-of-the-art computerized spirometers that are easily transported to the job site. We have 5 spirometers dedicated to field use. It only takes 5 minutes to administer a PFT. After the medical data is collected, it is reviewed by our physician. The clearance letter, signed by the physician, is available within 30 minutes. |
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Our Vallen Occupational Health Services physician
provides medical clearances that are valid for a period of one year. To conduct
medical clearances first we must obtain a copy of your written respiratory
protection program and answers to five questions about your employees respirator
use. This is an OSHA requirement and the information is confidential and
provided directly to the physician. At the job site we first administer the
mandatory OSHA medical clearance questionnaire. This questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Answers from the questionnaire are entered
into our computerized spirometry program and a pulmonary function test (PFT) is
administered. A pulmonary function test will