ACOEM’s Essentials of Occupational Medicine program will be comprised of approximately 60 individual courses in 15 sections and provides an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the clinical, technical, and professional concepts of the field for the non-specialist or new entrant.
The Extreme Occupations Section includes seven courses:
Fitness for Duty in Safety Critical Tasks
This course is designed to provide a basic process for evaluating fitness for duty for workers in safety-sensitive positions and those making safety-critical decisions. Often there are additional concerns due to remote locations, 24/7 operations, and other issues that are not usually present in other occupations or work locations. OEM physicians assess and report on Fitness for Duty and, if present, may provide comments on Medical Risk.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Describe the primary reason for the fitness for duty evaluation.
- List the three principal issues to review in fitness for duty assessments.
- Discuss additional risks are posed by work in remote locations.
Robert Bourgeois, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Nothing to disclose
Diving Medicine
This presentation provides an overview of commercial diving, including the types of diving, roles and responsibilities of commercial divers, equipment, diving operations, and common diving tasks. It introduces the unique occupational hazards and health risks associated with commercial diving, including decompression sickness, barotrauma, air or gas embolism, and environmental exposures. The presentation also examines the role of the diving physician in evaluating fitness to dive, conducting medical surveillance, and managing diving-related injuries.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Describe the functions of a commercial diver
- Identify different types of commercial diving
- Recognize commercial diving equipment
- Describe the role of the diving medical examiner
Tony Alleman, MD, MPH, MS, FACOEM
Nothing to disclose
Highway Medicine
This session provides an introduction to the FMCSA Commercial Driver Medical Examination and the medical certification process for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Participants will explore who requires medical certification under FMCSA regulations, the role and responsibilities of the Certified Medical Examiner, and the importance of applying a risk-based framework when making certification decisions. The session will also introduce key FMCSA resources that support medical examiners in evaluating driver health and determining medical qualification.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Describe the purpose of the FMCSA Commercial Driver Medical Examination
- Identify who requires medical certification under FMCSA regulations
- Recognize the role and responsibilities of the Certified Medical Examiner
- Explain the need to apply a risk-based framework to certification decisions
- Identify key FMCSA resources for medical guidance
Natalie Hartenbaum, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Nothing to disclose
Human Factors in Accidents
Human factors play a critical role in workplace safety, accident prevention, and organizational performance. This presentation introduces the principles of human factors engineering, emphasizing how accidents often result from interactions within complex systems rather than individual failures alone. Participants will explore common contributors to human error, including fatigue, communication breakdowns, stress, and organizational influences, as well as practical frameworks such as the Swiss Cheese Model and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). The course highlights strategies to improve safety culture, strengthen resilience, and implement system-based approaches to reduce errors and prevent accidents.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Define human factors and identify how individual, environmental, and organizational factors contribute to workplace safety and performance.
- Analyze workplace incidents using human factors principles to identify system-level contributors and potential root causes beyond individual error.
- Apply human factors frameworks, including the Swiss Cheese Model and Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), to evaluate safety risks and incidents.
- Identify strategies to strengthen organizational resilience and safety culture by addressing factors such as fatigue, communication, stress, and organizational influences.
John Burress, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Nothing to disclose
Maritime Medicine
This course is designed to introduce maritime medicine, a specialized area of transportation medicine, representing an extreme occupational environment with unique challenges. International versus US standards, a review of the characteristics of the maritime environment which makes it extreme, and review of cases to illustrate the decisions that go into finding mariners fit for duty will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Contrast the different maritime regulatory authorities
- Differentiate between fitness for certification by the US Coast Guard and fitness for duty
- Describe ways in which the maritime setting is an extreme occupational environment
- Identify examples of the risks associated with long-term health issues and medications on mariner fitness for duty
Eric Schaub, MD, MPH
Nothing to disclose
Medical Emergency Planning
This session provides a practical approach to developing and maintaining a site-specific medical emergency response plan. Participants will learn how to identify workplace hazards and likely high-consequence medical scenarios, understand fundamental OSHA requirements, and match medical response capabilities, training, equipment, and external resources to site-specific needs. The session also highlights the importance of emergency action plan integration, drills, after-action reviews, and continuous improvement to ensure an effective response during the critical first minutes of an emergency.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Differentiate emergency response elements
- Cite fundamental regulatory requirements
- Develop site-specific, risk-based plan
- Build medical response capabilities
- Test and improve the medical emergency response system
Pamela Krahl, MD, MPH
The individual has disclosed ownership of individual stocks and stock options in Amgen, an ineligible company. Mitigation was completed through independent content review to ensure the education is balanced, evidence-based, and free from commercial bias.
Rail Medicine
This course is designed to provide a clear overview of the railroad industry, its history, unique regulatory environment, workplace culture, and the medical considerations essential for understanding and supporting the health and safety of railroad workers.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Explain the history of railroads and railroad medicine’s impact on today’s medicine
- Cite regulations and factors pertaining to railroads and how they shape the workplace culture
- Describe the potential occupational hazards seen in the railroad work environment
- Discuss the injury management challenges experienced when treating railroad workers
Laura Gillis, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Nothing to disclose
Original Posting Date: September 21, 2026
Termination Date: September 20, 2029
Accreditation and Credit Designation Statements
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Attendees are eligible to earn up to 6.25 CME hours. To receive CME credit, you must view the session recording, successfully pass the CME post-test, and complete the evaluation. CME credit will be awarded upon the completion of each individual course.