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Aboard ship, a gas free certificate is good for a
maximum of 8 hours. After 8 hours, the testing must be
repeated. While testing, the GFE or the marine chemist
must wear the protective equipment required by the
certificate and his or her supervisor. Ashore, the gas free
certificate issued by the marine chemist will indicate
retest periodicity.
Requesting Gas Free Services
Now that we know why we have gas free testing,
we need to know who performs the service. Anytime
you have a need to enter a confined or enclosed space
aboard ship, you must make a request to have the space
tested to ensure it is gas free. Contact the damage control
assistant (DCA) or fire marshal to arrange for these
services. For more information on the Gas Free
Engineering Program afloat, consult OPNAVINST
5100.19B, chapter B8, and Naval Ships’ Technical
Manual (NSTM), chapter 074, volume 3.
Ashore, the marine chemist performs gas free
services as outlined in OPNAVINST 5100.23C,
chapter 27.
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
The Medical Surveillance Program monitors the
continuing health of certain personnel. The results of the
industrial hygiene surveys, as interpreted by qualified
occupational health professionals, determine the
selection of personnel for medical surveillance
examinations. The medical department representative
(MDR) and the division officer identify personnel who
require medical surveillance. The MDR follows the
guidance of the Medical Surveillanee Procedures
Manual; Navy Occupational Health Information
Management System (NOHIMS) Medical Matrix; and
Navy Environmental Health Center (NAVENVHLTH-
CEN) Technical Manual, NEHC-TM91.5.
Navy facilities ashore and afloat establish military
and civilian employee medical treatment and
surveillance programs. Medical facilities ashore
provide direct support to ships that are not equipped or
staffed to provide appropriate medical surveillance and
documentation. In general, these programs monitor the
following areas:
Job certification or recertification to determine a
person’s fitness to begin or continue to perform
a job safely and effectively
The effectiveness of major hazard-specific
programs based on a continuing check on the
health status of exposed personnel
As a secondary prevention, the detection of early
indicators of excessive exposure caused by the
work environment before actual illness, disease,
or injury occurs and to allow for the timely start
of corrective actions to prevent any long-term
adverse effects
Compliance with the requirements of certain
NAVOSH standards
Medical Examinations
The types of examinations scheduled are preplace-
ment or base-line, special-purpose or periodic, and
termination. Medical examinations assess the health
status of people as it relates to their work. These
examinations produce specific information that
determines the adequacy of protection for personnel
from potential workplace hazards. The medical
examination may include a physical examination,
clinical laboratory tests, radiologic exams and
physiologic testing, or an inquiry about the person’s
occupational history. OPNAV Form 5100/15, Medical
Surveillance Questionnaire (figs. 5-9A and 5-9B),
shows an individual’s previous and current employ-
ment. This information helps identify work or other
activities that may pose a potential health hazard for the
person. Occupational medical examinations are
scheduled based on a person’s birth month or as
operational requirements permit. For hazard-specific
medical surveillance, a medical examination will be
provided when the action level of the contaminant is
exceeded. An examination is also provided when the
exposure exceeds 30 days per year.
Medical Records
Existing directives dictate procedures on the
maintenance, retention, and disposal of medical records.
The cognizant medical command, branch clinic, or
Military Sealift Command medical offices maintain
records consisting of forms, correspondence, and other
files that relate to an employee’s medical and
occupational history. Other information includes occu-
pational injuries or illnesses, physical examinations, and
all other treatment received in a health unit. Included,
too, are audiograms; pulmonary function tests;
industrial hygiene computations; laboratory and x-ray
findings; and records of personal exposure to physical,
biological, and chemical hazards. A problem summary
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