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Salt Lake Technical Center > SLTC Brochure

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SLTC Brochure

SALT LAKE TECHNICAL CENTER The Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC) is an essential part of OSHA, and provides technical support to every program and facet of the Agency. What does the Technical Center do? Maintain a staff of professionals with expertise in chemistry, engineering, and industrial hygiene to provide the Agency with integrated solutions for complex safety and health problems. Provide analyses for approximately 1,000 different hazardous substances found in the workplace. Provide in-depth investigations to identify unknown hazardous substances or reasons for material failures. Provide telephone consultation to Agency staff, other Government agencies (domestic & foreign), and the private sector. Provide on-site technical specialists to assist OSHA inspectors in a variety of areas involving chemistry, industrial hygiene and engineering. Develop new sampling and analytical methods to meet OSHA needs. Evaluate direct reading monitoring equipment for field use. Assist National Emphasis programs to further advance safety and health in the workplace. Interact with professional organizations and standard setting groups such as: AIHA, ACGIH, ASTM, ASSE, & ANSI. How does the Salt Lake Technical Center do it? The SLTC maintains an experienced professional staff - average government service is 20 years. The SLTC uses state-of-the-art field test equipment & analytical instrumentation. The SLTC produces high quality analytical results using: time tested legal chain-of-custody procedures. a tightly controlled internal Quality Control program. peer review of all analytical results before they are released. consistent excellent performance in the NIOSH PROFICIENCY ANALYTICAL TESTING (PAT) program. concepts developed through long-standing accreditation by the AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ASSOCIATION (AIHA). The SLTC uses the latest computer technology Many staff members are AMERICAN BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE (ABIH) certified in their particular field of expertise. A few are CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONALS (CSP). CHEMISTRY Using state-of-the-art analytical equipment, the SLTC provides high quality analytical results. OSHA chemist Yogesh Shah calibrates a gas chromatograph for analyses of organic solvent samples from an automobile paint shop. OSHA chemist George Lewis is preparing an Ion Chromatograph for analyses of acid mist samples from a plating operation. OSHA chemist Philip Giles sets up an Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer for multi-elemental analyses of welding fume samples. Automation is used by the SLTC to speed productivity and improve accuracy. This robotic system, located in a climate controlled room, is used to pre- and post- weigh sample filters for gravimetric analyses. Specific analyses, such as silica, are then performed on the weighed filters. Bar code reader identifies sample. Automated balance measures accurate weight. ENGINEERING The SLTC uses its engineering expertise to evaluate a wide variety of work-sites and recommend changes. Physical Scientist Micheline Sedlar analyzes an ergonomic videotape from a bow manufacturing plant. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE With a highly experienced staff, the SLTC is able to use the full range of Industrial Hygiene expertise to solve unique problems. SLTC staff often assist OSHA Industrial Hygienists with complex field inspections. RESEARCH As the nations work-sites change and new products are introduced into the market place, the SLTC must develop the technology and procedures needed to keep pace. OSHA chemist Carl Elskamp prepares to test a sampling device for the collection of hydrazine by sampling a test atmosphere containing trace amounts of this hazardous substance. Worker exposure to hydrazine may occur in a variety of industrial settings. QUALITY CONTROL Quality Control is responsible for a variety of services designed to assure the quality of work performed by the SLTC and the Agency is the best possible. PRODUCT EVALUATIONS New products are constantly being introduced by the private sector which may be useful to OSHA in performing site inspections. The SLTC watches for products which show promise of advancing OSHA capabilities. These products may be assessed through laboratory or field testing before specific recommendations are made to the field staff. COMPUTER SERVICES Computer Services are absolutely essential to the success of OSHA. In achieving this success, the most up-to-date computer systems are used: To deliver technical information to the agency and the safety and health community. To develop new computer applications for the Agency. (Projects developed include: OCIS, OSHA report forms, FAX service, & FAXBACK service for condensed OSHA analytical methods.) For management & clerical needs. To operate analytical instruments, perform necessary calculations, store analytical results, and FAX final reports to Area Offices. To link the SLTC with a variety of on-line services. INTERNET LINK The SLTC maintains an Internet link through the OSHA home page. This link contains information, that is constantly updated, to assist OSHA and other federal agencies, state plan states, private industry, and the general public. It is called "Technical Links". The address is: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/index.html LIBRARY SERVICES OSHA chemist Bonny Decker uses the SLTC library to locate technical information on a hazardous compound she is working with. The library provides information services to the SLTC staff that support OSHA projects. With the explosion of technical information, Library Services continue to grow to accommodate needs. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The SLTC staff maintains active involvement in many professional areas. Staff members are often invited to write technical papers, teach classes, give scientific presentations, and serve on various professional committees. In addition, requests for technical assistance in a variety of areas related to OSHA activities are often received. These activities benefit OSHA and the public in many ways. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OSHA SALT LAKE TECHNICAL CENTER DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT 8660 South Sandy Parkway Sandy, UT 84070-6424 March 1997

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