APPENDIX XIII

MEDICAL STANDARDS WORKSHOP

The Medical Standards Workshop discussed three items; those were, Pre-Placement Physical Standards, Medical History Forms, and Physical Examinations for Employees.

Pre-Placement Physical Standards. We discussed at length the minimum physical standards desired for our shipboard personnel. We agreed that these standards can't be different for each and every crewmember, by job assignment, but rather should be generic since all crew in working aboard a vessel and during emergencies must have certain minimum physical performance. We discussed such items as visual acuity, color perception, hearing standards, lifting requirements, flexibility and dexterity, etc. We agreed that part of the physical evaluation could take place in any physician's ofice(hearing test, blood & urine analysis, chest-x-rays, etc.) while others must be measured in the field (lifting ability, flexibility and dexterity, etc.). Rather than reinventing the wheel, we will gather the existing physical standards from the various institutions and generate a composite which will represent the opinion of the majority of UNOLS member institutions. Before publication of any such standards, they will be sent to all members for comment and will be reviewed by Dennis Nixon (legal) and Bob Baker (medical) for acceptability. These physical standards will be published as guidelines only for the individual member institutions to use as they see fit. The group recognized that each operator has his/her set of standards and his/her own rules and regulations issued by their States and/or Institutions. There is absolutely no intent to publish any physical standards which would, in anyway, require compliance by any member. However, these guidelines would be available to those who wish to use them and would have telegal weight of the consensus of UNOLS members. We cautioned ourselves that any standards adopted would have to apply to those who are already hired and are present employees.

Medical History. Similar to physical standards, using existing medical history forms, we will generate a generic form for the UNOLS fleet to adopt as they see fit. A well- developed medical history form could be very useful in determining medical pre-conditions and/or prescribing remedies for medical assistance while underway.

Physical Examinations. The present Coast Guard guidelines call for physicals every 5 years between the ages of 20 and 30, 3 years between the age of 30 and 40, 2-1/2 years between the age of 40 and 50, 2 years between the age of 50 and 60, and every year over age 60. Most institutions presently require physicals more frequently than the foregoing. Again, we will recommend periodic physicals to be used by members as appropriate.

The bottom line is that the medical standards should be the minimum standards that will ensure the level of performance that we require of our crew underway. The consensus of operating institutions will add legal weight to any standards so developed. As a spin-off, with similar medical requirements, we will be able to hire amongst ourselves with a degree of assurance that the employee has met standards and is current regarding his/her medical condition.

Those in attendance were: