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Printing Instructions |
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American Biological Safety Association (ABSA)
(signed September 23, 2002; renewed October 13, 2004; renewed January 29,
2007;
renewed March 3, 2009)
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The OSHA and ABSA Alliance will continue to focus on enhancing workplace
health and safety and to assist employers, including small businesses, in developing a preventive
focus for biological safety issues. The Alliance's goals include:
Outreach and communication:
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention
of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information
(e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and ABSA's Web sites) to
employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit or appear at OSHA's or ABSA's conferences, local meetings, or other events such as
ABSA's Annual Conference.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding
ABSA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by ABSA and
through OSHA or ABSA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or
any other applicable forum).
Promoting the national dialogue concerning biological safety in the workplace:
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on Biosafety
issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health
issues.
Milestones and Successes
Related Documents
Alliance Agreements
Alliance Annual Reports
Alliance News Releases
Activities and Events
(Archive)
- May 3-9, 2009:
2009 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The
American Biological Safety Association and more than 55 other Alliance Program
participants supported 2009 NAOSH Week. Sponsored annually by the American
Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, and the Canadian
Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing
injuries and illnesses in the workplace. The theme for 2009 NAOSH Week was
"Safety Means Always Coming Home."
- October 20-26, 2008:
2008 Drug-Free Work Week. The American Biological Safety Association and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported the 2008
Drug-Free Work Week. Sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the Week
focused on educating employers, employees and the public about the importance
of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
- June 25-26, 2008: Summer Seminar Series and Review Course, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel,
Baltimore, Maryland.
- Dionne Williams, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health Enforcement,
Directorate of Enforcement Programs, USDOL-OSHA, staffed an Alliance Program
exhibit booth during the conference.
- May 4-10, 2008:
2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The American
Biological Safety Association and a number of other Alliance Program participants supported 2008
NAOSH Week, "Safety is Good Business." Sponsored annually by American Society of Safety Engineers
and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, the Week focuses on the importance of preventing
injuries and illnesses in the workplace.
- October 7–10, 2007: 50th Annual Biological safety Conference, Opryland
Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.
- Dionne Williams, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health Enforcement,
Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), USDOL-OSHA, staffed an Alliance
Program exhibit booth.
- October 7, 2007: Melody Sands, then-Director, Office of Health Enforcement, DEP, USDOL-OSHA; Dionne Williams, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health
Enforcement, DEP, USDOL-OSHA; and Karen Heckmann, Industrial Hygienist,
Office of Training and Education, Directorate of Training and Education,
USDOL-OSHA; presented a Professional Development Course, "Introduction to
OSHA for Biosafety Professionals."
- October 8, 2007: Dionne Williams, Industrial Hygienist, Office of Health
Enforcement, DEP, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation, "OSHA Protection: Past,
Present, and Future OSHA Efforts Concerning Workers."
Products and Resources
Alliance Program Participant Developed Products
- Select Agent Diseases Fact Sheet [PDF - 367 KB]. Through the OSHA and American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) Alliance, ABSA
developed "Select Agent Diseases Fact Sheet." The Fact Sheet provides laboratory employees with a
reference tool that includes the symptoms, transmission and treatment, for some of the most
commonly encountered pathogens or biological toxins that are federally regulated and have the
potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. (2008, July)
- Zoonotic Diseases Fact Sheet [PDF
- 478 KB]. Through the OSHA and American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) Alliance, ABSA
developed "Zoonotic Diseases Fact Sheet." The Fact Sheet provides laboratory employees with a
reference tool that includes the symptoms, transmission and treatment for some of the most
commonly encountered diseases that are generally found in animals but can be spread to humans.
(2008, July)
- Principles of Biosafety Fact Sheet [PDF - 57 KB]. Through the OSHA and American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) Alliance, ABSA developed "Principles of Biosafety Fact Sheet." The Fact Sheet provides laboratory employees with safety information through twelve valuable rules of biosafety. (2008, April)
- BioSafety Levels (US) [PDF - 88 KB]. Through the OSHA and American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) Alliance, ABSA developed "BioSafety Levels (US)." The document describes the four levels of biosafety. (2008, April)
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
OSHA eTools
Publications and Newsletters
- On-line Resource: OSHA Infectious Dose White Paper [PDF
- 191 KB]. ABSA Alliance News.
- On-line Resource: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration Web
Site on Legionnaires' Disease Bacteria [PDF
- 102 KB]. ABSA Alliance News.
Additional Resources
* Alliance Implementation Team members serve on the editorial board.
+ Alliance Implementation Team members participated in the development of this resource.
Areas of Emphasis
Accessibility Assistance:
Contact the OSHA Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs at 202-693-2200 for assistance
accessing PDF materials.
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