NTSB Safety Recommendations M-09-14 through -16

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: NTSB Safety Recommendations M-09-14 through -16

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                   NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

October 20, 2009

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NTSB Safety Recommendations M-09-14 through -16

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The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following

recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard:

Modify Form 719K (Merchant Mariner Physical Examination

Report) to elicit specific information about any previous

diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and about the presence

of specific risk factors for that disorder. (M-09-14)

Implement a program to identify licensed mariners subject to

the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular on Medical and

Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner

Credentials (NVIC 04-08) and who are at high risk for

obstructive sleep apnea, and require that those mariners

provide evidence through the medical certification process

of having been appropriately evaluated and, if treatment is

needed, effectively treated for that disorder before being

granted unrestricted medical certification. (M-09-15)

Develop and disseminate guidance for mariners, employers,

and physicians regarding the identification and treatment of

individuals at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA),

emphasizing that mariners who have OSA that is effectively

treated are routinely approved for continued medical

certification. (M-09-16)

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http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2009/M09_14_16.pdf

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The complete recommendation letter is available on the Web

at the URL indicated above.

The letter is in the Portable Document Format (PDF) and can

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An archive of recommendation letters is available at

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Electronic versions of letters may or may not include

enclosures; however, related publications, accident

briefs, and aviation accident synopses may be found

on the NTSB website.

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