scope:

This Manual is intended to assist medical practitioners in developing, performing, and interpreting the results of occupational medical examinations. The requirements in this Manual apply to all DoD Components.

Purpose. This Manual provides health professionals with information and references appropriate for developing occupational examination protocols for workers throughout the Department of Defense. Many occupational health problems can be prevented or their effects minimized if identified early. However, occupational medical examinations are preventive only if the workers at risk are properly identified and appropriately evaluated, and the results are used to modify exposure through work practices, process changes, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, or worker placement.

The information in this Manual should be used to develop examination protocols for workers at risk of developing specific occupational health problems based on known work-related health risks. Developing and administering occupational medical examinations based on this Manual will satisfy the basic medical surveillance requirements prescribed in DoD Instruction 6055.5 (reference (a)) by identifying the known health risks associated with specific jobs, processes, and exposures.