02/09/2004

The OSHA Website A Valuable Tool

Kathleen Murdock, Safex, Inc.

OSHA plays a vital role in preventing on-the-job injuries and illnesses through outreach, education, and compliance assistance. All of this is offered through the OSHA website at www.osha.gov. In 2002, OSHA's website received 561 million hits from more than 16 million visitors. The website includes a special section devoted to assisting small business as well as interactive eTools to help employers and employees. OSHA also provides a variety of publications in print and on CD ROM, which are available from OSHA's regional or national offices or the Government Printing Office at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Employers and employees can also call 1-800-321-OSHA for workplace safety and health information or assistance 24 hours a day.

What's available:
* Occupational safety and health information categorized by 100+ technical subjects.
* Pages about hazards describe ways to recognize, evaluate and control specific hazards.
* Pages about industries describe industry-specific hazards and how to control them.
* Provides a variety of reference materials including OSHA and non-OSHA documents, training slides, course handouts, video clips, and links to other Internet sites.n Murdock, Safex, Inc.

Some examples of what can be found on the site:

* Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention. New Revised Safety and Health Topics Page posted 07/14/2003.
* Eye and Face Protection. New eTool posted 07/01/02.
* Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens due to Percutaneous Injury, OSHA, (May 1999) 22 pages. This report summarizes nearly 400 comments from health care facilities, workers and others who responded to OSHA's request for information of Fall, 1998. Posted 05/21/99
* Needlestick Injuries page updated with the OSHA Regional News Release, on the hazards from breakage of glass capillary tubes. Posted 02/22/99
* Formaldehyde, Tuberculosis, and Latex Allergy Numerous links to information on the recognition, evaluation, control, and regulatory compliance.

OSHA's mission is to ensure safe and healthful workplaces in America. Since the agency was created in 1971, workplace fatalities have been cut in half and occupational injury and illness rates have declined 40 percent. At the same time, U.S. employment has doubled from 56 million workers at 3.5 million worksites to 111 million workers at 7 million sites.

If you have any OSHA compliance questions, call the OFDA's health and safety consultant toll-free at 866-364-5342.


OSHA's website: http://www.osha.gov

Call 24 hours a day for workplace safety and health information or assistance:
1-800-321-OSHA (6742)

OSHA compliance questions: toll-free 866-364-5342