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q OSHA website www.osha.gov

q NIOSH website http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html

q Where to find MSDS on the Internet www.ilpi.com/msds/

q AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety www.aaafoundation.org

q Safeworker.com www.safeworker.com

q This Weeks Safety News - See: Past Articles

OSHA to Update Agency Standards Based on Consensus Standards

OSHA has published a final rule in the Federal Register that revokes references to outdated industry and national consensus standards. "By eliminating these outdated references we are clarifying employer obligations and reducing administrative burdens for employers and OSHA," said Jonathan L. Snare, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "It's important that we continue to update standards that reference consensus standards issued over thirty years ago so that they reflect the advances in technology and work processes." OSHA is revoking references found in its standards on Temporary Labor Camps, Guarding of Portable Power Tools, Sawmills, Flammable and Combustible Liquids, and Arc Welding and Cutting, all of which reference outdated consensus or industry standards. On Nov. 24, 2004, OSHA announced the agency is engaging in an overall effort to update OSHA standards that reference or include language taken directly from outdated consensus standards. The Agency will use a variety of regulatory approaches, including notice and comment rulemaking, direct final rulemaking, and technical amendments for updating or revoking outdated references to consensus standards incorporated by reference, and updating regulatory text of current OSHA rules that were adopted directly from the language of outdated consensus standards. Click Here for the entire OSHA posting.

NFPA Fact of the Week

brought to us by the NFPA

In fires with sprinklers present, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths and the average property loss is cut by one-half to two thirds.

Hurricane Katrina Relief

ASSE Business Resumption Safety Checklist:

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has put together a "Business Resumption Safety Checklist" which includes references to SAFE ENTRY, STRUCTURAL SECURITY, POWER CHECKS, CLEAN-UP SAFETY, HEALTH/SANITATION ISSUES many other critical issues.
Click here for the ASSE checklist

Cash Contributions for Hurricane Katrina Relief:

American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Donation Resource Page http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

Contracts for Health and Safety Professionals Who Want to Volunteer:

American Red Cross contact page for volunteers -- http://www2.redcross.org/contactus/
Find your local American Red Cross -- http://www2.redcross.org/where/where.html
The Department of Health and Human Services has established a Web site at https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/ and toll-free number (1-866-KAT MEDI) to identify healthcare professionals to assist in relief efforts.
Emergency Management Assistance Compact -- http://www.emacweb.org/ . Volunteer information for public health workers employed by state and local public health agencies.
National Council of State Boards of Nurses -- http://www.ncsbn.org/news/ncsbninthenews_hurricanekatrina.asp . This page provides information on Boards of Nursing in the states most impacted by this disaster and offers links for those wishing to volunteer their services.
National Emergency Resource Registry -- https://www.swern.gov/ . Offers information for those interested in donating housing, transportation, medical equipment, supplies, and medications.
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters -- http://www.nvoad.org/membersdb.php?members=National .
Those interested in joining a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team should visit the national DMAT Web site at http://www.oep-ndms.dhhs.gov/dmat.html or e-mail the main office at ndms@usa.net .
USA Freedom Corps -- http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov

FEMA Resources for Hurricane Victims:

How to Apply for Assistance -- http://www.fema.gov/about/process/
Returning Home After the Disaster -- http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=17978
General Recovery Information -- http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/hurricane_season.shtm

Resources for Health and Safety Professionals:

NIOSH Flood and Hurricane Response Info -- http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/natural.html#flood
OSHA – Keeping Workers Safe During Clean Up and Recovery Operations Following Hurricanes -- http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html
National Library of Medicine Hurricane Katrina Web page -- http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html -- Has info on toxic chemical and environmental health information resources for health workers and the interested public. Links are provided to information on chemicals that may be released as a result of the Katrina disaster and on environmental health concerns following the wind and flood damage.

Resources to Share with Your Employees:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Hurricane Response and Preparedness -- http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.asp
Department of Health and Human Services -- http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html . Hurricane Katrina response updates.
FEMA Says Cash Donations Best Way to Help Hurricane Victims -- http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473
Florida Department of Health Hurricane Information Index -- http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Hurricane/hurricane2005.html
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Offers Safety tips to prevent injury and the spread of disease following Hurricane Katrina. -- http://www.dhh.state.la.us./news.asp?Detail=570
Mississippi Department of Health Severe Weather Health and Safety Advisory -- http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/44,2022,122,218.html

State Health Departments in Affected Areas:

Alabama Department of Public Health -- http://www.adph.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1
Florida Department of Health -- http://www.doh.state.fl.us/
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals -- http://www.dhh.state.la.us./
Mississippi Department of Public Health -- http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/
CDC Resource Links, including list of all state public health departments -- http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec80226c7a


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