Workplace Health and Safety
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Cornell University's Workplace Health and Safety program was established to advance knowledge and heighten responsiveness to workplace issues and environmental concerns. Expert workplace health and safety faculty develop programs focusing on evaluation, information, education, training and communication. Dedicated to protecting and securing the well being and productivity of workers, these experts can assist you in identifying, analyzing and controlling environmental hazards as well as handling anticipated workplace health and safety issues.
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Item Negotiating Contract Language on Health & Safety: A Union Guide to Planning, with Sample ClausesPlatner, James W.; Duke, Debi; Zucker, Susan (1991-10-29)[Excerpt] Rather than representing the final word on the subject, we hope this manual will represent the first step in an evolutionary process of increasingly effective and comprehensive health and safety contract language guidance. This can only succeed if labor leaders communicate with us concerning critical failures and successes in utilizing or obtaining contract language related to the work environment. We look forward to hearing about your experiences.Item Health Hazard Manual For Cutting Oils, Coolants, and Metalworking FluidsBrown, Nellie J. (1991-01-01)[Excerpt] The metalworker can be exposed to cutting oils during application by two basic routes of entry: skin contact and inhalation. The higher risk jobs tend to be those with high cutting speeds, heavy oil flow, and continuous contact, which may result in the worker being splashed with oil on the skin or clothing. The oil may remain on the skin for some time and oil-soaked clothing may be worn all shift. Cutting oils may be applied manually, by an air-carried mist, or by a continuous flood. When flooding is used, the oil is delivered by a pump, piping, and nozzle to the cutting zone. With this method the tool, work, and chip are flooded. (Used fluid is then collected in the chip pan and returned by gravity to the pump sump.) Inhalation of cutting oil mists may occur because of the nature of coolant delivery or because of the high temperatures and speeds generated at the cutting tool's working edge. When the mist stream method of coolant delivery is used, much of it evaporates on contact with the hot tool, workpiece or chip. In addition to the intentional production of oil mists, vaporized oil can also be generated by the forces of the rapidly spinning workpiece or tool, or by the vaporization of the fluid from the heat of the cutting process.Item Generic Protocol: Conducting a Safety Walk-Through on a Farm: Hazards of the Manure Handling System, Anaerobic Digester, and Biogas Handling SystemBrown, Nellie J. (2005-08-31)[Excerpt] This protocol is intended to be used by health and safety experts and those with expertise in anaerobic digesters/systems. It was adapted from basic elements of both traditional job hazard analysis and process hazards analysis (particularly hazard and operability analysis) techniques, and is intended to overcome some of the limitations of both methods for someone conducting a site walk-through consisting of less than one day of available time.Item Health and Safety Guidance for Composting in the School SettingBrown, Nellie J. (2005-01-01)[Excerpt] A composting project in a school, either in the classroom or on the school property, can be a terrific opportunity for students to gain direct knowledge and experience with natural processes and a method of reducing and recycling biodegradable wastes. Although composting utilizes natural decay processes, these processes are occurring in a relatively small, concentrated area of a pile or bin. There is a potential for human exposure to the organisms involved and the products they produce.Item Conducting a Safety Walk-through on a Farm: Hazards of the Manure Handling System, Anaerobic Digester, and Biogas Handling System (A Self-Assessment Guideline for Farmers)Brown, Nellie J. (2007-01-01)[Excerpt] This self-assessment document is intended to be used by farm owners and managers or farm staff who are responsible for the operations and/or maintenance of anaerobic digesters and their related processes. It provides guidance for process and job evaluation with suggestions based upon typical potential hazards for farm digester systems and their associated preventive measures.Item Health Hazard Manual for FirefightersBrown, Nellie J. (1990-01-01)[Excerpt] Firefighters, as well as victims, can be exposed to a variety of toxic substances during a fire. Some of these toxicants are particularly insidious because they are produced by thermal decomposition before smoke makes a fire evident.Item Implementation of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard for Small BusinessBrown, Nellie J.; Platner, James W. (1988-01-01)[Excerpt] The small business utilizes as single owner/operator or a small number of supervisors with multiple responsibilities. Small workforces, limited resources, limited time, and limited technical expertise can make implementation of a Hazard Communication Program difficult. The Hazard Communication standard involves the use of technical and scientific information, and the small business can rarely justify full or part-time technical staff to implement the provisions of this regulation. This manual is organized in steps reflecting the sequence of tasks to be accomplished in order to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard.Item Health Hazard Manual for Cosmetologists, Hairdressers, Beauticians and BarbersBrown, Nellie J. (1987-01-01)[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of hairdressing products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure.Item Health Hazards Manual for Custodians, Janitors and HousekeepersBrown, Nellie J. (1990-10-01)[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of cleaning products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure.Item Health Hazards Manual for Autobody Shop WorkersBrown, Nellie J. (1989-01-01)[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of autobody shop products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure. The health effects discussed for these products are based upon the exposure of the professional, not the consumer. This manual deals with chemical exposure only; other issues of interest to the autobody shop worker may include occupational exposure to noise and neuromuscular problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon (possibly from pneumatic hand tools).