Occupational Health & Safety is a multi-disciplinary field dealing with anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace hazards to improve workplace safety and worker well-being. It is comprised of two primary areas.

  • Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance which includes Respiratory Protection (when applicable).
  • Occupational and Industrial Safety. 

Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance Overview

To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, MSU employees receive Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance assessment by a Licensed Healthcare Provider if their MSU work tasks include/may include any of the following as determined by the Designated Department Contact.

  • Use of a respirator/presence of respiratory hazards.
  • Human blood, tissues, cells, or cell lines.
  • Infectious agents.
  • Teratogens/carcinogens. 
  • Formaldehyde.
  • Radioactive materials.
  • Anesthetic gases.
  • Lasers.
  • Heavy metals (e.g., mercury, cadmium, lead, etc.).
  • As required by OSHA 1910 subpart Z (see OSHA Medical Screening and Surveillance Considerations).
  • Animal Research Center, BSL-2, or BSL-3 Facilities.
  • Other as required/indicated by a chemical safety data sheet, research protocols, standard operating procedure, lab safety manual, chemical hygiene plan, etc. 

MSU employees to whom the above items apply are required to complete the following steps annually and anytime there are changes to applicable MSU work activities. They will then be placed in the occupational health and medical surveillance program(s), as determined by the Licensed Healthcare Provider.

Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance

Please complete these OSHA required process steps for Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance.

 ⚠️ Steps 1–3 must be completed in order.

  1. Complete and submit your Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance Hazard Assessment. This form is submitted to MSU’s Safety and Risk Management office.
  2. Complete and submit your Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance Questionnaire. This is  reviewed by Bridger Occupational Health. Allow 48 hours for review before scheduling your exam.
  3. Contact Bridger Occupational Health  to schedule required and/or requested in-person exams. Please anticipate an average appointment time of 1 hour. Complete any additional direction from Bridger Occupational Health.

MSU employees who will be using respiratory protection are also required to also complete the steps in Respiratory Protection.

Respiratory Protection

Please complete steps these additional OSHA required process steps only if you are an MSU employee who will be using respiratory protection.

 ⚠️ Steps 1–3 must have been completed in order and a copy of your Bridger Occupational Health provided respirator card or document emailed to Tammy Lynn (tammy.lynn@montana.edu) before proceeding to steps 4 and 5.

  1. Complete and document the required Respiratory Training. Please login to the link with your net ID, select “Extra Training” on the list on the left side of the screen. Enter “respiratory protection” in the search bar.  Select the Respiratory Protection Environmental training – this will take you to your required 19-minute training.  It may be beneficial to print the certificate of completion to provide to your Designated Department Contact.
  2. Obtain respirator, cartridges, associated equipment, if applicable. Once you have completed steps 1-4, schedule a time (tammy.lynn@montana.edu) to pick up your respirator and any associated equipment.  During your scheduled visit, you will have an opportunity to ask any questions regarding your respirator and receive a respirator user packet.  

MSU employees will direct work related questions to their Designated Department Contact who may be the supervisor, manager, director, principal investigator, or foreman.  The Designated Departmental Contact is responsible for identifying their employees’ work activities which may be subject to Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance parameters.

Occupational Health and Medical Surveillance Resources

Bloodborne Pathogens

Respiratory Protection

Occupational and Industrial Safety Resources

Safety Concern Form

If you are unable to locate the information you need or have additional questions, please submit a Safety Concern Form and a member of our Team will connect with you.