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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-7283.
Computer software is now available to provide employers
expert, customized guidance on compliance with Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) asbestos standards.
The OSHA ASBESTOS ADVISOR, interactive computer software
that can provide building owners, contractors, consultants and others with
quick answers to technical questions about complying with the standards, is
available free of charge from the Department of Labor electronic bulletin
board, LABOR NEWS, and the Compliance Assistance Section of the OSHA home page
on the internet World Wide Web.
"This powerful new tool is another example of how OSHA is
using technology to make compliance with worker protections easier," said
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Joseph A. Dear.
"Not only will it improve compliance, but it should be a great help to
employers in reducing costs."
Dear expressed appreciation to a number of stakeholder
groups that helped OSHA develop the ASBESTOS ADVISOR. These included the Safe
Buildings Alliance, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the National
Apartment Association, the Institute for Real Estate Management, the Shopping
Center Council and the Center to Protect Workers' Rights.
In addition to being on the internet, the ASBESTOS ADVISOR
will be added to the next edition of OSHA's CD-ROM, which contains a wealth of
other information about OSHA activities, and can be purchased through the
Government Printing Office (GPO).
The CD-ROM has an order number of S/N 729-013-00000-5,
costs $79 per year ($98.75 foreign) with a single copy at $28 ($35 foreign),
and can be ordered from GPO by phone (202) 512-1800 or fax (202) 512-2250.
Edward Stern, of OSHA's Office of Regulatory Analysis, who
coordinated development of the ASBESTOS ADVISOR, noted that the risk of
occupational exposure to asbestos is greater in some circumstances than others.
OSHA, therefore, adopted regulations covering a wide range of work practices.
Many parts of the rules do not apply to everyone.
"You need to know what parts of the standards apply to
your particular situation. To know that is to have expertise and the ASBESTOS
ADVISOR provides it," Stern said.
When installed on a personal computer, the ADVISOR
interviews the user about his or her business, what buildings and worksites are
involved and the work that will be performed. The ADVISOR's written guidance
depends on the user's responses. The system enables the user to find out
quickly what has to be done to protect the workers against hazards of asbestos
exposure in his or her work situation.
"In other words, you get customized advice. You can even
develop your own customized glossary of technical terms," Stern said.
The system uses hypertext, which allows a user to call up
additional information on any highlighted word or phrase in the text.
In addition to valuable comments from the stakeholder
groups, OSHA received helpful feedback from users of a public test version of
the ASBESTOS ADVISOR made available on the OSHA World Wide Web site and the DOL
electronic bulletin board.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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