Criteria for Physical Examination of Visitors to a Compressed Air Environment

 

Screening for Experience with Compressed Air Environments

 

(1) What type of experience do you have with compressed air environments?

(1a) none

(1b) very limited

(1c) some

(1d) extensive

 

Screening Health Questionnaire

 

Questions (answered Yes or No)

(1) Do you have a history of spontaneous collapse of the lung (pneumothorax)?

(2) Have you ever had chest or thoracic surgery?

(3) Have you ever had ear surgery?

(4) Do you have any degree of deafness?

(5) Is your most recent chest radiograph more than 1 year old?

(6) Were there any abnormal findings reported to you regarding the chest radiograph?

(7) Do you currently have hay fever, asthma, or sinus trouble?

 

Maximum Exposure Times for Pressure Levels

Pressure in psig	Maximum Exposure Time in hours
0-12	8
13-16	4
17-22	0.83 (50 minutes)
23-26	0.50 (30 minutes)
27-31	0.42 (25 minutes)
32-35	0.33 (20 minutes)
36-40	0.25 (15 minutes)

 

where:

• The compression time is included in the exposure time.

 

Interpretation

 

If the person has no experience with a compressed air environment, or answers "Yes" to any of the screening questions, or if the visit is to exceed the permitted exposure time, then a complete physical examination should be administered.

 

If the person has no or little experience with compressed air environments and if the visit is short without exertion, then only the physical examination and chest radiograph may be needed, rather than more extensive testing with an audiogram and laboratory work.

 

If the person has no or little experience with compressed air environments, then a pressure test should be given prior to the exposure whenever possible.