7 AAC 12.650. Employee health program

(a) Each facility must have an employee health program that

(1) requires each employee to be evaluated within the first two weeks of employment and, except as provided otherwise in this paragraph, annually after that, to detect active cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, as follows:

(A) an employee who has never had a positive tuberculin skin test result shall obtain a tuberculin Mantoux skin test; if the tuberculin skin test result is negative, the employee does not need to have further annual tuberculosis evaluation under this paragraph if the employee's duties never require him or her to be in a room where patients or residents might enter, and if the employee does not handle clinical specimens or other material from patients or from their rooms; an example of such an employee is an administrative person or research worker whose place of work is remote from patient or residential care areas and who does not come in contact with clinical specimens;

(B) an employee who has previously had a positive tuberculin skin test result, or an employee whose tuberculin skin test obtained under (A) of this paragraph has a positive result,

(i) shall have a health evaluation by a health care provider to identify symptoms suggesting that tuberculosis disease is present; the health evaluation must also include evaluation for the presence of any of the following risk factors: evidence of inadequately treated past tuberculosis disease, history of close exposure to a case of communicable pulmonary tuberculosis within the previous two years, history of a negative tuberculin test within the previous two years, diabetes mellitus (severe or poorly controlled), diseases associated with severe immunologic deficiencies, immunosuppressive therapy, silicosis, gastrectomy, excessive alcohol intake, or human immunodeficiency virus infection; if symptoms suggesting tuberculosis disease are present, or if any of the risk factors is present, a chest x-ray shall be obtained as part of the health evaluation and the health care provider shall report the case to the section of epidemiology, division of public health; and

(ii) if the employee has previously received appropriate antituberculosis chemotherapy and has no symptoms suggesting that tuberculosis is present, the employee need not have further annual tuberculosis evaluation under this paragraph; and

(2) requires evidence of immunization against rubella by

(A) a valid immunization certificate signed by a physician listing the date of rubella vaccination;

(B) a copy of a record from a clinic or health center showing the date of vaccination; or

(b) The requirement of (a)(2) of this section does not apply to home health agencies, nursing homes, or ambulatory surgical facilities, and, for employees of other facilities, may be waived if a physician signs a certificate that there are medical reasons which dictate that an employee should not be vaccinated against rubella.

History: Eff. 11/19/83, Register 88; am 7/17/87, Register 103

Authority: AS 18.05.040

AS 18.20.010

AS 18.20.060

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