OSHA
provides a wide range of references and services to help
employers and employees improve workplace health and safety
and comply with regulatory requirements. These include
the following:
To file a complaint, report an emergency,
or seek OSHA advice, assistance, or products, call 1-800-321
OSHA or your nearest
regional
office. The teletypewriter (TTY) number is 1-877-889-5627.
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What education and training does OSHA offer? |
OSHA area offices offer a variety of information services including publications, audiovisual aids, technical advice, and speakers for special engagements. In addition, OSHA’s Training Institute in Arlington Heights, IL, provides basic and advanced courses in safety and health for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, federal agency employees, and private-sector employers, employees, and their representatives.
Due to the high demand for OSHA Training Institute courses, OSHA Training Institute Education Centers also offer some courses at sites throughout the United States. These centers are nonprofit colleges, universities, and other organizations selected through a competitive process. OSHA also provides grants to nonprofit organizations to conduct specialized workplace training and education not available from other sources. Grants are awarded annually.
For more information on grants, training, and education, contact the OSHA Training Institute, Directorate of Training and Education by mail at 2020 South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005-4102; by phone at (847) 297-4810, or by fax at (847) 297-4874.
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What other publications does OSHA offer? |
OSHA offers more than 100
documents, including brochures, fact sheets, posters,
pocket cards, flyers, technical documents, and a
quarterly magazine. These documents are available
online or by calling (202) 693-1888
or by faxing (202) 693-2498. Among the
titles are the following:
-
Access to Medical and Exposure Records. OSHA
Publication 3110, (2001). Also available as a 1 MB
PDF, 8 pages.
- All About OSHA. Also available as a 239 KB PDF, 32 pages. OSHA Publication 3302-02R,
(2012).
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Chemical Hazard Communication.
OSHA Publication 3084, (1998). Also available as
a 248 KB
PDF, 31 pages.
- Consultation Kit. OSHA Publication 3184.
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Controlling Electrical Hazards. OSHA
Publication 3075, (2002). Also available as a 349
KB
PDF, 71 pages.
- Employer Rights and Responsibilities Following an OSHA Inspection. Also available as a 537 KB PDF, 28 pages. OSHA Publication 3000-09R, (2011). Outlines employer rights and obligations following an inspection conducted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
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Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response. OSHA Publication 3114,
(1997).
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How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations. OSHA Publication 3088, (2001).
Also available as a 250 KB
PDF, 25 pages.
-
Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071,
(2002). Also available as a 497 KB
PDF, 50 pages.
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Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication
2209, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB
PDF, 75 pages.
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Personal Protective Equipment. OSHA
Publication 3151-12R, (2003). Also available as
a 629 KB
PDF, 46 pages.
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Principal Emergency Response and Preparedness - Requirements and Guidelines. OSHA
Publication 3122-06R, (2004). Also available as
a 620 KB
PDF,
76 pages.
- Respirators Quick Card. Also available as a 29 KB PDF, 1 page. OSHA Publication 3280.
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Small Entity Compliance Guide for Respiratory Protection Standard [5 MB PDF*, 124 pages]. OSHA Publication 3384-09, (2011). Provides small entities with a comprehensive step-by-step guide complete with checklists and commonly asked questions that will aid both employees and employers in small businesses with a better understanding of OSHA’s respiratory protection standard.
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What free onsite consultation services does OSHA provide? |
The
OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program offers free onsite safety
and health consultation services to help employers
establish and maintain safe and healthful workplaces.
The service is funded largely by OSHA and is delivered
by professional safety and health consultants within
state governments. Developed primarily for smaller
employers with more hazardous operations, the service
includes an appraisal of all mechanical systems,
physical work practices, environmental workplace
hazards, and all aspects of the employer's job safety
and health program.
The onsite consultation program is separate from
OSHA's inspection efforts. No penalties are proposed
or citations issued for safety or health problems
identified by an OSHA consultant. The service is
confidential. The employer's and firm's name, and
any information about the workplace, including any
unsafe or unhealthful working conditions the consultant
identifies, are not reported routinely to the OSHA
inspection staff. The employer, however, is obligated
to correct any serious job safety and health hazards
identified in a timely manner, and commits to do
so when requesting the service.
For more information, see OSHA's Consultation Directory for a list of contact telephone numbers
by state.
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What are the Voluntary Protection
Programs? |
The Voluntary Protection Programs, or VPPs, recognize and promote effective safety and health program management. Companies in the VPP have strong safety and health programs, implemented and managed cooperatively by their management and labor forces in cooperation with OSHA. Sites approved for VPP's three programs - Star, Merit, and Demonstration - meet and maintain rigorous standards. Benefits to participants include the following:
- Lost-workday case rates generally 60 to 80 percent below industry averages;
- Reduced workers' compensation and other injury- and illness-related costs;
- Improved employee motivation to work safely, leading to better quality and productivity;
- Positive community recognition and interaction;
- Further improvement and revitalization of already good safety and health programs; and
- Partnership with OSHA.
For more information, contact the VPP manager in your OSHA regional office.
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What partnership opportunities does OSHA provide? |
OSHA
has initiated partnerships with employers, employees,
and employee representatives in a wide range of
industries to encourage, assist, and recognize efforts
to eliminate workplace hazards. Participants work
together to identify a common goal, develop plans
to achieve it, and implement those plans in a cooperative
way. Partnerships can transform relationships between
OSHA and an employer or entire industry. Former
adversaries recognize that working together to solve
workplace safety and health problems is to everyone's
advantage.
For more information, contact your OSHA regional office.
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What is OSHA's Alliance Program? |
In March 2002, OSHA created the Alliance Program.
This cooperative program enables organizations
committed to safety and health to work with OSHA to
prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the
workplace. OSHA and Alliance participants work
together to reach out to, educate, and lead the
nation's employers and their employees in advancing
workplace safety and health. Groups that can form an
Alliance with OSHA include employers, labor unions,
trade or professional groups, government agencies,
and educational institutions.
There are many
benefits to participating in an Alliance with OSHA.
The agreements, which are signed for two years, help
organizations to:
- Build trusting, cooperative relationships with
the Agency
- Network with others committed to
workplace safety and health
- Leverage resources to maximize worker safety and
health protection
- Gain recognition as proactive labor leaders in
safety and health
Organizations may be cooperating with OSHA for
the first time, or they may be continuing existing
relationships with the Agency established through
cooperative programs.
For more information, visit the Alliance Program Web page.
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What is the value of a good safety and health program? |
A
good, effectively managed worker safety and health
program can be a big factor in reducing work-related
injuries and illnesses and their related costs.
OSHA offers voluntary guidelines to help employers
and employees in workplaces it covers develop effective
safety and health programs. Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines (Federal
Register 54(18): 3908-3916, January 26,
1989) identifies four general elements critical to a
successful safety and health management system.
These are:
- Management leadership and employee involvement;
- An analysis of worksite hazards;
- Use of hazard prevention and control initiatives;
and
- Safety and health training.
These guidelines are posted on the OSHA website. Also,
see OSHA's
Safety and Health Management Systems eTool.
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What is the role of state programs? |
The
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 encourages
states to develop and operate their own job safety
and health plans. States that do so must adopt standards
and enforce requirements that are at least as effective
as federal requirements. Twenty-four states and
two territories have adopted their own plans, three
of which cover only public employees. For more information,
here is a listing of states and territories with
approved state plans.
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What other groups or associations
can help me? |
Various organizations can
provide you with safety and health information that
may help you in formulating your
emergency
action plan, or in taking steps to protect your
employees during an emergency. A few are listed
here. Safety
Data Sheets, Guides and Manuals
- AIHA Hygienic Guide Series. American Industrial
Hygiene Association (AIHA).
- ANSI Standards, Z37 Series, Acceptable
Concentrations of Toxic Dusts and Gases.
- ASTM Standards and Related Material.
American Society for Testing and Materials.
- International Code Council
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). A clearinghouse
for information on fire protection and prevention
as well as NFPA standards.
Safety Standards and Specifications
Groups
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Coordinates
and administers the federal voluntary standardization
system in the United States.
- American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM). The
world's largest source of voluntary consensus
standards for materials, products, systems,
and services.
Insurance and Listing
Organizations
- Factory Insurance Association. Composed of capital
stock insurance companies that provide engineering,
inspection, and loss-adjustment services.
- Factory Mutual System. An industrial fire
protection, engineering, and inspection bureau
established by mutual fire insurance companies.
- Underwriter Laboratories (UL). A nonprofit organization
that publishes annual lists of manufacturers
that provide products meeting appropriate standards.
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Contact Us |
To report
accidents, unsafe working conditions, or safety &
health violations:
Contact the OSHA Office nearest you,
see
map of offices, or, contact our toll free
number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)... TTY 1-877-889-5627.
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Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.
*These files are provided for downloading.
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