Tactical Teams

Timing and Content of the Medical Evaluation

Periodic Medical Evaluation

Pending the development of the LEO chapter on periodic medical evaluation:

Tactical team members who use a respirator should be in a respiratory surveillance program (including annual fit testing) consistent with 29 CFR 1910.134. (https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.134)

Tactical team members who are determined by their agency to be regulated by 29 CFR 1910.120 (hazardous waste operations and emergency response available at: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.120) should be evaluated according to that regulation.

Spirometry

LEOs with no respiratory symptoms or no known lung disease should have spirometry performed to establish a baseline, though it is not needed to decide fitness for duty as a tactical team member. Repeat spirometry may be performed following any exposure and/or as part of a surveillance program. In order to provide an effective baseline for comparison after an acute exposure, it is the consensus of the Task Group to repeat the spirometry at least every five years.

For LEOs with respiratory symptoms or known lung disease, spirometry should be performed prior to joining the tactical team (if not done within the past year). The spirometry should be repeated with any change in the underlying medical condition, change in job performance or at the discretion of the police physician. It is the consensus of the LEO Task Group that repeat spirometry be more frequent than every five years.