Annex E

Medical certificate for service at sea (sample)

I have evaluated the above-named examinee according to __________________________________________(national law, regulation or other requirement).

On the basis of the examinee's personal declaration, my clinical examination and diagnostic test results recorded on the medical examination form, I declare the examinee:
 

Place of examination: _________________     Date of examination (day/month/year):_____ /_____ /_____

Medical certificate's date of expiration (day/month/year):_____ /_______ /_______

Official stamp (also print name of medical examiner if not legible):

Signature of medical examiner: ______________________________

Authorized by: __________________________________________ (competent authority)

I acknowledge that I have been advised of the content of the medical examination form.

Examinee's signature: __________________________________________________

(To be signed in the presence of the medial examiner)

Annex F

4. Collection, processing and communication of health-related data¹²

4.2.Workers' health surveillance should process only the information which is useful for the assigned purpose. Appropriate attention should be attached to the extension of information technology which, if not properly controlled, may result in a widespread misuse of data. Special instructions concerning health and medical records maintained in electronic form should be issued by the competent authority in addition to general rules and regulations concerning privacy and personal data.

4.3.Good records and documentation are vital to all systems of workers' health surveillance. Health and occupational health professionals should contribute to the workers' personal health files with information relevant to the protection of workers' health and in accordance with their professional judgement and ethics. Personnel providing occupational health services should have access to the information contained in the file to the extent that it is relevant to the performance of their duties.

4.4.Workers' personal medical data should be collected in conformity with medical confidentiality and the general principles of occupational health and safety.

4.5.Workers' personal health data covered by medical confidentiality should be stored only by personnel bound by rules on medical confidentiality. Such data should be maintained separately from all other health data. Access to medical files and data should be restricted to medical professionals.

4.6.Workers have the right of access to their own personal health and medical files. This right should preferably be exercised through a medical professional of their choice. Special attention should be devoted to the need to maintain accurate and up-to-date records. Measures should be taken to facilitate the exercise of the right of each worker to have any erroneous data corrected.

4.7.Confidentiality must be respected in the whole process of workers' health surveillance. Personal health files and medical records must be kept secure under the responsibility of the occupational health physicians or occupational health nurses. The conditions under which, and the length of time during which, workers' health and medical records should be maintained should be prescribed by national laws and regulations or by the competent authority.

4.8.Personal information of a medical nature should only be communicated in accordance with the provisions governing medical confidentiality. Workers should be informed prior to such communications. Personal health data may be communicated to third parties only with the informed consent of the worker concerned.

4.9.General and collective information on the health of workers in the enterprise must be provided to employers and workers and their representatives in an appropriate manner for prevention, protection and promotion purposes. Communication of data may imply an interaction between the originator and the receiver. It may entail an obligation on the receiver's side, for example, the need to take action.

4.10.Special attention should be given to the manner in which forms are conceived. There may be irrelevant questions and some important aspects may be missing. Forms and questionnaires to be filled in by workers or by occupational health professionals may not meet the necessary criteria of respect and confidentiality. Occupational health professionals should examine such forms and questionnaires and endeavour to have them revised if necessary.

4.11.The danger that sophisticated investigations are often coupled with a lack of communication and explanations by the health profession should not be overlooked. Efforts should be made to limit investigations to those which are necessary for occupational health purposes and to ensure transparency, which will build a climate of confidence in the professional judgement and ability of occupational health professionals to provide sound advice which takes judicious account of the need to protect health and to maintain employment.

¹² Taken from Ch. 4 of the ILO's Technical and ethical guidelines for workers' health surveillance.

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