OSHA 3351-07 2008

Preventing Skin ProblemsfromWorking withPortland Cement

Employers are responsible for providing asafe and healthy workplace for theiremployees. OSHA’s role is to promote thesafety and health of America’s working menand women by setting and enforcing stan-dards; providing training, outreach and edu-cation; establishing partnerships; andencouraging continual improvement inworkplace safety and health.

This informational booklet provides a gen-eral overview of a particular topic relatedto OSHA standards. It does not alter ordetermine compliance responsibilities inOSHA standards or the OccupationalSafety and Health Act of 1970. Becauseinterpretations and enforcement policy maychange over time, you should consult cur-rent OSHA administrative interpretationsand decisions by the Occupational Safetyand Health Review Commission and thecourts for additional guidance on OSHAcompliance requirements.

This publication is in the public domain andmay be reproduced, fully or partially, with-out permission. Source credit is requestedbut not required.

This information is available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. Voicephone: (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY)number: (877) 889-5627.

Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.Assistant Secretary of Labor forOccupational Safety and Health

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 3351-072008

Preventing SkinProblems fromWorkingwith Portland Cement

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Contents

Introduction...3

Who is at Risk...3

Skin Problems Caused by Exposureto Portland Cement...4

OSHA Standards Applicable to Workingwith Portland Cement...5Personal Protective Equipment...5Sanitation...6Hazard Communication...6Recordkeeping...7Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)...7

Preventing Cement-RelatedSkin Problems...7Good Practices for Glove Selection

and Use...8Good Practices for Use of Boots and Other

Protective Clothing and Equipment...9Good Practices for Skin Care...10

Making Portland Cement Products LessHazardous...10

Bibliography...12

Technical Notes...16

OSHA Assistance...17Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines...17State Programs...18Consultation Services...18Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)...19Strategic Partnership Program...19Alliance Program...20OSHATraining and Education...20Information Available Electronically...21OSHA Publications...22Contacting OSHA...22

OSHA Regional Offices...23

Introduction

Portland cement is a generic term used to describea variety of building materials valued for theirstrong adhesive properties when mixed withwater. Employees who work with portland cementare at risk of developing skin problems, rangingfrom mild and brief to severe and chronic.

Wet portland cement can damage the skinbecause it is caustic, abrasive, and absorbs mois-ture. Portland cement also contains trace amountsof hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], a toxin harmful tothe skin. Dry portland cement is less hazardous tothe skin because it is not as caustic as wet cement.

The purpose of this document is to makeemployers and employees aware of the skin prob-lems associated with exposure to portland cement;to note the OSHA standards that apply to workwith portland cement; and to provide guidance onhow to prevent cement-related skin problems.Measures to protect employees from inhalationand eye hazards associated with exposure to port-land cement are also noted.

Who is at Risk

Any employee who has skin contact with wetportland cement has the potential to developcement-related skin problems. Portland cement isan ingredient in the following materials:� concrete� mortar� plaster� grout� stucco� terrazzo

There are many different tasks that involve theuse of portland cement. Examples of employeeswho may be exposed to the dangers of wet port-land cement products include bricklayers, carpen-ters, cement masons, concrete finishers, hod car-riers,1 laborers, plasterers, tile setters, terrazzo

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workers, ready-mixed concrete truck drivers,bucket and buggy operators, and those involvedin pouring and finishing work.

Skin Problems Caused byExposure to Portland Cement

Wet portland cement can cause caustic burns,sometimes referred to as cement burns. Cementburns may result in blisters, dead or hardenedskin, or black or green skin. In severe cases, theseburns may extend to the bone and cause disfigur-ing scars or disability.

Employees cannot rely on pain or discomfortto alert them to cement burns because cementburns may not cause immediate pain or discom-fort. By the time an employee becomes aware ofa cement burn, much damage has already beendone. Cement burns can get worse even after skincontact with cement has ended. Any employeeexperiencing a cement burn is advised to see ahealth care professional immediately.

Skin contact with wet portland cement can alsocause inflammation of the skin, referred to as der-matitis. Signs and symptoms of dermatitis caninclude itching, redness, swelling, blisters, scaling,and other changes in the normal condition of theskin.

Contact with wet portland cement can cause anon-allergic form of dermatitis (called irritant con-tact dermatitis) which is related to the caustic,abrasive, and drying properties of portland cement.

In addition, Cr(VI) can cause an allergic form ofdermatitis (allergic contact dermatitis, or ACD) insensitized employees who work with wet portlandcement. When an employee is sensitized, that per-son’s immune system overreacts to smallamounts of Cr(VI), which can lead to severeinflammatory reactions upon subsequent expo-sures. Sensitization may result from a single Cr(VI)exposure, from repeated exposures over the

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course of months or years, or it may not occur atall. After an employee becomes sensitized, briefskin contact with very small amounts of Cr(VI) cantrigger ACD.

ACD is long-lasting and employees can remainsensitized to Cr(VI) years after their exposure toportland cement has ended. Medical tests (e.g.,skin patch tests) are available that can confirmwhether an employee has become dermally sensi-tized to Cr(VI).

Employees who work with wet portlandcement and experience skin problems, includingseemingly minor ones, are advised to see a healthcare professional for evaluation and treatment. Incement-related dermatitis, early diagnosis andtreatment can help prevent chronic skin problems.

SEE A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL IF YOUWORK WITH WET PORTLAND CEMENT ANDHAVE SKIN PROBLEMS!!

OSHA Standards Applicable toWorking with Portland Cement

Several OSHA standards require employers totake steps to protect employees from hazardsassociated with exposure to portland cement.These standards include requirements for:

Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1926Subpart E for construction; 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Ifor general industry; 29 CFR 1915 Subpart I forshipyards)

OSHA’s personal protective equipment (PPE)standards require that PPE be provided, used, andmaintained in a sanitary and reliable conditionwhenever it is necessary to protect employeesfrom injury or impairment. The employer mustprovide PPE such as boots and gloves as neces-sary and appropriate for jobs involving exposureto portland cement and ensure these items aremaintained in a sanitary and reliable condition

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when not in use. Employees must be able to cleanor exchange PPE if it becomes ineffective or con-taminated on the inside with portland cementwhile in use. In addition, employers are requiredto provide PPE at no cost to their employees withlimited exceptions (1910.132(h)).

Sanitation (29 CFR 1926.51 for construction; 29CFR 1910.141 for general industry; 29 CFR 1915.97for shipyards)

Construction employers must make washingfacilities available for employees exposed to port-land cement. Washing facilities must provideclean water, non-alkaline soap, and clean towels.Such facilities must be readily accessible toexposed employees and adequate for the numberof employees exposed. The sanitation require-ments for general industry and shipyards are sim-ilar to those for construction.

Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1926.59 for con-struction; 29 CFR 1910.1200 for general industry;29 CFR 1915.1200 for shipyards) and SafetyTraining (29 CFR 1926.21 for construction)

The Hazard Communication standard requiresthat manufacturers and importers provide infor-mation on material safety data sheets (MSDSs)and labels about the hazards of portland cement.Employers must make these MSDSs and labelsavailable to employees. The Hazard Communi-cation and Safety Training standards also requireemployers to provide training to communicate thehazards of exposure to portland cement to theiremployees. This training must address:� the hazards associated with exposure to port-

land cement, including hazards associated withthe cement’s Cr(VI) content;

� preventive measures, including proper use andcare of PPE and the importance of properhygiene practices; and

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� employee access to hygiene facilities, PPE, andinformation (including MSDSs).

Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)Employers subject to OSHA recordkeeping

requirements must inform employees of how toreport work-related injuries and illnesses andrecord all new cases of work-related injury and ill-ness (including cement burns and cases of der-matitis) that result in days away from work, restrict-ed work or transfer to another job, medical treat-ment beyond first aid, or are otherwise determinedto be a significant injury or illness by a physician orother licensed health care professional.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) (29 CFR 1926.55for construction; 29 CFR 1910.1000 for generalindustry; 29 CFR 1915.1000 for shipyards)

OSHA has established a permissible exposurelimit to address the inhalation hazards of workingwith dry portland cement. Employers must limitairborne exposure to portland cement to 15 mil-ligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air for totaldust and 5 mg/m3 for respirable dust. Because theCr(VI) content in portland cement is so low, it isanticipated that by meeting the permissible expo-sure limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3 for portland cement,employers will also meet the Cr(VI) PEL and theaction level of 5 and 2.5 micrograms per cubicmeter (µg/m3), respectively (see 1926.1126).

Preventing Cement-RelatedSkin Problems

The best way to prevent cement-related skin prob-lems is to minimize skin contact with wet portlandcement. Compliance with OSHA’s requirementsfor provision of PPE, washing facilities, hazardcommunication and safety training, along with thegood skin hygiene and work practices listed below,will protect against hazardous contact with wetcement.

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Good Practices for Glove Selection and Use� Provide the proper gloves for employees who

may come into contact with wet portlandcement. Consult the glove supplier or thecement manufacturer’s MSDS for help inchoosing the proper gloves. Butyl or nitrilegloves (rather than cotton or leather gloves)are frequently recommended for caustic mate-rials such as portland cement.

� Use only well-fitting gloves. Loose-fittinggloves let cement in. Often the use of glovesand clothing makes exposure worse whencement gets inside or soaks through the gar-ment. Use glove liners for added comfort.

� Wash hands before putting on gloves. Washhands every time gloves are removed.

� Dry hands with a clean cloth or paper towelbefore putting on gloves.

� Protect arms and hands by wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves duct-taped togloves to prevent wet cement from gettinginside the gloves.

� Follow proper procedures for removing gloves,whether reusing or disposing them. See Table1 at page 9 for proper procedures for removinggloves.

� Clean reusable gloves after use. Before remov-ing gloves, clean the outside by rinsing or wip-ing off any wet cement. Follow the manufactur-er’s instructions for glove cleaning. Place cleanand dry gloves in a plastic storage bag andstore them in a cool, dry place away from tools.

� Throw out grossly contaminated or worn-outgloves.

� Keep the inside of gloves clean and dry.� Do not use barrier creams or “invisible

gloves.” These products are not effective inprotecting the skin from portland cement haz-ards.

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Table 1. Steps for safe glove removal:

1. Wash off the outside of your gloves whileyou are still wearing them.

2. Loosen gloves on both hands, holdingyour arms down to prevent water fromdripping onto the skin.

3. Holding your arms downward, pull thefirst glove down to remove only the glovefingers. The cuff should still be coveringthe palm of your hand.

4. Remove the second glove by grabbing itwith the first glove.

5. Slip off the first glove.

6. Handle used gloves by the inside only.

Source: “SaveYour Skin,” CPWR, 2000b.

Good Practices for Use of Boots and OtherProtective Clothing and Equipment� Wear waterproof boots when necessary to pre-

vent wet cement from coming into contactwith skin. It is as important to protect legs,ankles, and feet from skin contact with wetcement as it is to protect hands.

� Boots need to be high enough to prevent wetcement from getting inside. Tuck pants insideand wrap duct tape around the top of theboots to prevent wet cement from entering.

� Select boots that are sturdy, strong enough toresist punctures and tears, and slip-resistant.

� Change protective boots if they become inef-fective or contaminated on the inside with wetcement while in use.

� Change out of any work clothes that becomecontaminated with wet cement and keep con-taminated work clothes separate from streetclothes.

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� When kneeling on wet cement use waterproofkneepads or dry kneeboards to prevent theknees from coming into contact with thecement.

� Wear proper eye protection when working withportland cement.

Good Practices for Skin Care� Wash areas of the skin that come into contact

with wet cement in clean, cool water. Use apH-neutral or slightly acidic soap. Check withthe soap supplier or manufacturer for informa-tion on the acidity and alkalinity of the soap.2

� Consider using a mildly acidic solution such asdiluted vinegar or a buffering solution to neu-tralize caustic residues of cement on the skin.3

� Do not wash with abrasives or waterless handcleaners, such as alcohol-based gels or citruscleaners.

� Avoid wearing watches and rings at work sincewet cement can collect under such items.

� Do not use lanolin, petroleum jelly, or otherskin softening products. These substances canseal cement residue to the skin, increase theskin’s ability to absorb contaminants, and irri-tate the skin. Skin softening products alsoshould not be used to treat cement burns.

Making Portland Cement ProductsLess Hazardous

In recent decades there have been efforts toreduce the risk of developing cement-related skinproblems by lowering the Cr(VI) content of port-land cement. Cr(VI) is not intentionally added toportland cement and it does not serve any func-tional purpose. There are a variety of ways tominimize the amount of Cr(VI) in portland cement,including:

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� Using slag, which is free of Cr(VI), in place ofor blended with clinker, the primary source ofCr(VI) in portland cement. Slag is a by-productof the iron ore extraction process and has beenused in concrete projects in the United Statesfor over a century.

� Adding ferrous sulfate to portland cement maylower the Cr(VI) content of the cement. Use offerrous sulfate has reportedly led to a declinein cases of allergic contact dermatitis in severalcountries (Goh et al., 1996; Avnstorp, 1989;Roto et al., 1996).4

Lowering the Cr(VI) content of portland cementcan lessen, but not entirely eliminate, the risk ofacquiring allergic contact dermatitis. It will noteliminate the other skin hazards posed by wetportland cement. Employers and employees needto take all necessary precautions to prevent skincontact with wet portland cement whether or notthe cement contains measurable amounts ofCr(VI). Wearing proper gloves and other protectiveequipment, and following good skin care andwork practices, provide the best protection againstthe skin hazards posed by wet portland cement.

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Bibliography

In Agency for Toxic Substances and DiseaseRegistry (ATSDR); “Toxicological profile forchromium”; ATSDRToxicological Profile, 88/10,2000; U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA.

Avnstorp, C.; “Prevalence of cement eczema inDenmark before and since addition of ferrous sul-fate to Danish cement”; Acta Demato-Venereologica, 69(2), pp. 151-155, 1989;Stockholm.

Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR)Consortium on Preventing Contact Dermatitis; ASafety and Health Practitioner’s Guide to SkinProtection, 2000a; Researched, developed, andproduced by FOF Communications; Available on-line at:http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/d000458.html. Also includes an employee safetypamphlet online at:http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/brochure.PDF, andhttp://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/brochure2.PDF

CPWR; SaveYour Skin; 2000b; Produced by FOFCommunications; Available online at:http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000280/d000280.html

CPWR; An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection,2000c; Researched, developed, and produced byFOF Communications; Available online at:http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000457/d000457.html

CPWR; SaveYour Skin: A 15-MinuteTool BoxSession, 2000d; Produced by FOFCommunications; Available online at:

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http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0300/d000303/d000303.html

“Comments of Building and Construction TradesDepartment, AFL-CIO, in Response to OSHA’sRequest for Comments on Exposure toHexavalent Chromium”; Docket H-054a, Exhibit31-6-1, pp. 7-8, November 19, 2002. (Re: OSHA’s,“Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium(Cr(VI)), Request for Information”; FederalRegister, 67 FR 54389-54394, August 22, 2002,(Exhibit 30).

CPWR; “Nonfatal Skin Diseases and Disorders inConstruction”; The Construction Chart Book, 3rdEdition, Chapter 46, September 2002; CPWR islocated in Silver Spring, MD.

Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity andthe Environment (CSTEE); Opinion on Risks toHealth from ChromiumVI in Cement, June 27,2002; European Commission, Brussels.

De Raeve, H., Vandecasteele, C., Demedts, M.,Nemery, B.; ”Dermal and respiratory sensitizationto chromate in a cement floorer”; AmericanJournal of Industrial Medicine, 34(2), pp. 169-76,1998.

Goh, C.L., Gan, S.L.; “Change in cement manufac-turing process, a cause for decline in chromateallergy?”; Contact Dermatitis, 34(1), pp. 51-54,1996; Munksgaard, Denmark.

Halbert, A.R., Gebauer, K.A., and Wall, L.M.;“Prognosis of occupational chromate dermatitis”;Contact Dermatitis, 27, pp. 214-219, 1992.

Helmuth, R.A., Miller, F.M., Greening, N.R.,Hognestad, E., Kosmatka, S.H., Lang, D.;“Cement”; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical

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Technology., Volume 5, 4th edition, 1993; JohnWiley & Sons, New York.

Irvine, C., Pugh, C.E., Hansen, E.J., and Rycroft,R.J.; “Cement dermatitis in underground workersduring construction of the Channel Tunnel”;Occupational Medicine, 44(1), pp. 17-23, February1994; London.

National Slag Association (NSA); National SlagAssociation News, Publications, and Slag IndustryPublications Archives;West Lawn, PA; Availableonline at: http://www.nationalslag.org/

Occupational Safety and Health Administration;“Occupational Exposure to HexavalentChromium, Final Rule”; Federal Register, 71 FR10100, February 28, 2006.

Rafnsson, V., Gunnarsdottir, H., Kiilunen, M.; “Riskof lung cancer among masons in Iceland”;Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 54(3),pp. 184-188, 1997.

Roto, P., Sainio, H., Reunala, T., Laippala, P.;“Addition of ferrous sulfate to cement and risk ofchromium dermatitis among construction work-ers”; Contact Dermatitis, 34(1), pp. 43-50, 1996.

Sahai, D.; “Cement Hazards and Controls: HealthRisks and Precautions in Using Portland Cement”;Construction Safety Magazine, 12(2), Summer2001; Available at:http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0500/d000513/d000513.html

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Shaw Environmental, Inc.; Industry Profile,Exposure Profile,Technological FeasibilityEvaluation, and Environmental Impact forIndustries Affected by a Revised OSHA Standardfor Hexavalent Chromium; February 21, 2006;Shaw Environmental, Inc., 5050 Section Avenue,Cincinnati, Ohio, 45212.

Shepherd, L.; “Health in construction”; The Safety& Health Practitioner, 17(6), pp. 46-49, June 1999.

Slag Cement Association (SCA); “What is SlagCement?” Slag Cement; Slag Cement Association,Sugar Land, Texas; Available online at:http://www.slagcement.org

Spoo, J. and P. Elsner; “Cement burns: a review1960-2000”; Contact Dermatitis, 45(2), pp. 68-71,August 2001.

Stern, A.H., Bagdon, R.E., Hazen, R.E., Marzulli,F.N., 1993; “Risk assessment of the allergic der-matitis potential of environmental exposure tohexavalent chromium”; Journal of Toxicology andEnvironmental Health, 40(4), pp. 613-641, 1993.

Vickers, H.R., and Edwards, D.H.; “Cement burns”;Contact Dermatitis, 2, pp. 73-78, 1976.

Zachariae, C.O.C., Agner, T., and Menne, T.;“Chromium allergy in consecutive patients in acountry where ferrous sulfate has been added tocement since 1981”; Contact Dermatitis, 35, pp.83-85, 1996; Munksgaard, Denmark.

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Technical Notes

1 Hod carriers transport mortar, bricks, and con-crete in a vee shaped trough (called a hod) toother employees.

2 “An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection” (seeCPWR, 2000c in the bibliography) contains a par-tial list of pH-neutral or moderately acidic liquidand bar soaps.

3 “An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection” (seeCPWR, 2000c in the bibliography) contains someinformation on neutralizing and buffering prod-ucts.

4 After Denmark required the addition of ferroussulfate to reduce the Cr(VI) content of cement toless than 2 parts per million, studies showed areduction in the prevalence of Cr(VI) allergy (Irvineet al., 1994). However, some U.S. cement manu-facturers who have experimented with the use offerrous sulfate have not been able to achieve sig-nificant Cr(VI) reduction. The reasons for thisinability may be due to variations in the Cr(VI)content of cement and the amount of time thatpasses between cement manufacture and use.Time delays are an important considerationbecause ferrous sulfate may lose its effectivenessover time, depending on how cement is packagedand on humidity and temperature conditions dur-ing storage.

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OSHA Assistance

OSHA can provide extensive help through a vari-ety of programs, including technical assistanceabout effective safety and health programs, stateplans, workplace consultations, voluntary protectionprograms, strategic partnerships, training andeducation, and more. An overall commitment toworkplace safety and health can add value to yourbusiness, to your workplace, and to your life.

Safety and Health ProgramManagement GuidelinesEffective management of employee safety andhealth protection is a decisive factor in reducingthe extent and severity of work-related injuriesand illnesses and their related costs. In fact, aneffective safety and health program forms thebasis of good employee protection, can save timeand money, increase productivity and reduceemployee injuries, illnesses, and related workers’compensation costs.

To assist employers and employees in devel-oping effective safety and health programs, OSHApublished recommended Safety and HealthProgram Management Guidelines (54 FederalRegister (16): 3904-3916, January 26, 1989). Thesevoluntary guidelines can be applied to all placesof employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elementscritical to the development of a successful safetyand health management system:� Management leadership and employee

involvement,� Worksite analysis,� Hazard prevention and control, and� Safety and health training.

The guidelines recommend specific actions,under each of these general elements, to achievean effective safety and health program. TheFederal Register notice is available online atwww.osha.gov.

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State ProgramsThe Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970(OSH Act) encourages states to develop andoperate their own job safety and health plans.OSHA approves and monitors these plans.Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico, and the VirginIslands currently operate approved state plans: 22cover both private and public (state and local gov-ernment) employment; Connecticut, New Jersey,New York, and the Virgin Islands cover the publicsector only. States and territories with their ownOSHA-approved occupational safety and healthplans must adopt standards identical to, or atleast as effective as, the Federal OSHA standards.

Consultation ServicesConsultation assistance is available on requestto employers who want help in establishing andmaintaining a safe and healthful workplace.Largely funded by OSHA, the service is providedat no cost to the employer. Primarily developedfor smaller employers with more hazardousoperations, the consultation service is deliveredby state governments employing professionalsafety and health consultants. Comprehensiveassistance includes an appraisal of all mechani-cal systems, work practices, and occupationalsafety and health hazards of the workplace andall aspects of the employer’s present job safetyand health program. In addition, the serviceoffers assistance to employers in developingand implementing an effective safety and healthprogram. No penalties are proposed or citationsissued for hazards identified by the consultant.OSHA provides consultation assistance to theemployer with the assurance that his or hername and firm and any information about theworkplace will not be routinely reported toOSHA enforcement staff.

Under the consultation program, certain exem-plary employers may request participation inOSHA’s Safety and Health AchievementRecognition Program (SHARP). Eligibility for par-ticipation in SHARP includes receiving a compre-

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hensive consultation visit, demonstrating exem-plary achievements in workplace safety andhealth by abating all identified hazards, and devel-oping an excellent safety and health program.

Employers accepted into SHARP may receivean exemption from programmed inspections(not complaint or accident investigation inspec-tions) for a period of 1 year. For more informa-tion concerning consultation assistance, seeOSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)Voluntary Protection Programs and on-site consul-tation services, when coupled with an effectiveenforcement program, expand employee protec-tion to help meet the goals of the OSH Act. TheVPPs motivate others to achieve excellent safetyand health results in the same outstanding way asthey establish a cooperative relationship betweenemployers, employees, and OSHA.

For additional information on VPP and how toapply, contact the OSHA regional offices listed atthe end of this publication.

Strategic Partnership ProgramOSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, thenewest member of OSHA’s cooperative pro-grams, helps encourage, assist, and recognizethe efforts of partners to eliminate serious work-place hazards and achieve a high level ofemployee safety and health. Whereas OSHA’sConsultation Program and VPP entail one-on-one relationships between OSHA and individualworksites, most strategic partnerships seek tohave a broader impact by building cooperativerelationships with groups of employers andemployees. These partnerships are voluntary,cooperative relationships between OSHA,employers, employee representatives, and oth-ers (e.g., trade unions, trade and professionalassociations, universities, and other governmentagencies).

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For more information on this and other coop-erative programs, contact your nearest OSHAoffice, or visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

Alliance ProgramThrough the Alliance Program, OSHA workswith groups committed to safety and health,including businesses, trade or professionalorganizations, unions and educational institu-tions, to leverage resources and expertise todevelop compliance assistance tools andresources and share information with employ-ers and employees to help prevent injuries, ill-nesses and fatalities in the workplace.

Alliance program agreements have beenestablished with a wide variety of industriesincluding meat, apparel, poultry, steel, plastics,maritime, printing, chemical, construction, paperand telecommunications. These agreements areaddressing many safety and health hazards andat-risk audiences, including silica, fall protection,amputations, immigrant workers, youth and smallbusinesses. By meeting the goals of the AllianceProgram agreements (training and education, out-reach and communication, and promoting thenational dialogue on workplace safety and health),OSHA and the Alliance Program participants aredeveloping and disseminating compliance assis-tance information and resources for employersand employees such as electronic assistancetools, fact sheets, toolbox talks, and training pro-grams.

OSHA Training and EducationOSHA area offices offer a variety of informationservices, such as compliance assistance, technicaladvice, publications, audiovisual aids, and speak-ers for special engagements. OSHA’s TrainingInstitute in Arlington Heights, IL, provides basicand advanced courses in safety and health forFederal and state compliance officers, state con-sultants, Federal agency personnel, and privatesector employers, employees, and their represen-tatives.

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The OSHA Training Institute also has estab-lished OSHA Training Institute Education Centersto address the increased demand for its coursesfrom the private sector and from other federalagencies. These centers include colleges, universi-ties, and nonprofit training organizations thathave been selected after a competition for partici-pation in the program.

OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organi-zations, through grants, to conduct workplacetraining and education in subjects where OSHAbelieves there is a lack of workplace training.Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients areexpected to contribute 20 percent of the totalgrant cost.

For more information on training and educa-tion, contact the OSHA Training Institute,Directorate of Training and Education, 2020 SouthArlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL,60005, (847) 297-4810, or see Training on OSHA’swebsite at www.osha.gov. For further informationon any OSHA program, contact your nearestOSHA regional office listed at the end of this pub-lication.

Information Available ElectronicallyOSHA has a variety of materials and tools avail-able on its website at www.osha.gov. Theseinclude electronic compliance assistance tools,such as Safety and HealthTopics Pages, eTools,Expert Advisors; regulations, directives, publica-tions and videos; and other information foremployers and employees. OSHA’s software pro-grams and compliance assistance tools walk youthrough challenging safety and health issues andcommon problems to find the best solutions foryour workplace.

A wide variety of OSHA materials, includingstandards, interpretations, directives, and morecan be purchased on CD-ROM from the U.S.Government Printing Office, Superintendent ofDocuments, toll-free phone (866) 512-1800.

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OSHA PublicationsOSHA has an extensive publications program. Fora listing of free items, visit OSHA’s website atwww.osha.gov or contact the OSHA PublicationsOffice, U.S. Department of Labor, 200Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington,DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to(202) 693-2498.

Contacting OSHATo report an emergency, file a complaint, or seekOSHA advice, assistance, or products, call (800)321-OSHA or contact your nearest OSHA Regionaloffice listed at the end of this publication. Theteletypewriter (TTY) number is (877) 889-5627.

Written correspondence can be mailed to thenearest OSHA Regional or Area Office listed at theend of this publication or to OSHA’s national officeat: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safetyand Health Administration, 200 ConstitutionAvenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210.

By visiting OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov,you can also:� File a complaint online,� Submit general inquiries about workplace safe-

ty and health electronically, and� Find more information about OSHA and occu-

pational safety and health.

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OSHA Regional Offices

Region I(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)JFK Federal Building, Room E340Boston, MA 02203(617) 565-9860

Region II(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)201 Varick Street, Room 670New York, NY 10014(212) 337-2378

Region III(DE, DC, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)The Curtis Center170 S. Independence Mall WestSuite 740 WestPhiladelphia, PA 19106-3309(215) 861-4900

Region IV(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,* TN*)61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 6T50Atlanta, GA 30303(404) 562-2300

Region V(lL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)230 South Dearborn StreetRoom 3244Chicago, IL 60604(312) 353-2220

Region VI(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)525 Griffin Street, Room 602Dallas, TX 75202(972) 850-4145

Region VII(IA,* KS, MO, NE)Two Pershing Square2300 Main Street, Suite 1010Kansas City, MO 64108-2416(816) 283-8745

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Region VIII(CO, MT, NO, SO, UT,* WY*)1999 Broadway, Suite 1690PO Box 46550Denver, CO 80202-5716(720) 264-6550

Region IX(AZ,* CA,* HI,* NV,* and American Samoa,Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands)90 7th Street, Suite 18-100San Francisco, CA 94103(415) 625-2547

Region X(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715Seattle, WA 98101-3212(206) 553-5930

* These states and territories operate their ownOSHA-approved job safety and health programs andcover state and local government employees as well asprivate sector employees. The Connecticut, New Jersey,New York and Virgin Islands plans cover public employ-ees only. States with approved programs must havestandards that are identical to, or at least as effective as,the Federal standards.

Note: To get contact information for OSHA AreaOffices, OSHA-approved State Plans and OSHAConsultation Projects, please visit us online atwww.osha.gov or call us at 1-800-321-0SHA.

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