Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major concern to businesses, schools, building managers, tenants, and workers because it can impact the health, comfort, well-being, and productivity of the building occupants. OSHA recognizes that poor IAQ can be hazardous to workers' health and that it is in the best interest of everyone that building owners, managers, and employers take a proactive approach to address IAQ concerns. This OSHA guidance publication on IAQ provides practical recommendations that will help prevent or minimize IAQ problems in commercial and institutional buildings, and help resolve...

This booklet contains all the safety and health standards concerning the marine terminal and longshoring industries, as contained in Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1917 and 1918, as of June 30, 2000. Also, included are brief discussions about: 1. The importance of training in establishing and reinforcing employee awareness of job safety and health; 2. The elements of a safety and health program that can be used by employers to develop effective programs at their work sites; 3. OSHA's onsite consultation program that is available to employers. Hazards not covered by Marine...

Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal at room temperature and pressure. A basic chemical element, it can combine with various other substances to form numerous lead compounds. Lead has been poisoning workers for thousands of years. Lead can damage the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, hematological system, and kidneys. When absorbed into the body in high enough doses, lead can be toxic. In addition, workers' lead exposure can harm their children's development. In construction, lead is used frequently for roofs, cornices, tank linings, and electrical conduits. In...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its Grain Handling Standard. Title 29. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Part 1910.272. in 1987 to protect workers exposed to fires and explosions. Excessive amounts of grain dust was one of the major causes of these devastating catastrophes that killed or maimed hundreds of workers. The standard protects workers from hazards faced while walking on or underneath accumulations of grain within a grain storage facility. These hazards include engulfment and entrapment in grain and grain handling equipment, which can result in...

The guidance is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to help construction workers and supervisors understand and reduce noise exposure on job sites. Employers are required to comply with safety and health standards as issued and enforced by either the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or an OSHA-approved State Plan. In addition, Section 5(a)(1) of The Occupational Safety and Health Act, the General Duty Clause, requires employers to provide their workers with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical...

More than 500,000 workers are employed in laboratories in the U.S. The laboratory environment can be a hazardous place to work. Laboratory workers are exposed to numerous potential hazards including chemical, biological, physical and radioactive hazards, as well as musculoskeletal stresses. Laboratory safety is governed by numerous local, state and federal regulations. Over the years, OSHA has promulgated rules and published guidance to make laboratories increasingly safe for personnel. This publication is intended for supervisors, principal investigators and managers who have the primary...

This guide is intended to help small businesses comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) standards. Employees exposed to Cr(VI) are at increased risk of developing serious adverse health effects including lung cancer, asthma and damage to the nasal passages and skin. This guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees from the hazards associated with exposure to Cr(VI). This publication provides guidance only, and does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities, which are set forth in OSHA...

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is based on a simple concept-that employees have both a need and a right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working. They also need to know what protective measures are available to prevent adverse effects from occurring. OSHA designed the HCS to provide employees with the information they need to know. Knowledge acquired under the HCS will help employers provide safer workplaces for their employees. When employees have information about the chemicals being used, they can take steps to reduce exposures,...

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in a very short time. It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of...

Controlling occupational injuries and illnesses and related expenditures is a top priority in most companies. Selecting a qualified health care professional to participate in the workplace safety and health activities can be a vital step in this process. The following questions and answers are to provide guidance and serve as a resource for those considering such a selection: What Issues Should be Considered in Selecting a Health Care Professional? What Unique Contributions Can an Occupational Health Care Professional Make to Workplace Safety and Health? Who Are Qualified Occupational Health...