Chemical Hazards of the Workplace, third edition, edited by Nick H. Proctor, et al., Philadelphia: T. B. Lippincott Co., 1991. A handy reference guide to chemical exposures at work. (666 pages, $79, ACGIH, (513) 742-2020.)
Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, third edition, vols. I and II, Geneva: International Labor Organization, 1988. Comprehensive reference books. (3,714 pages, $240, ACGIH, (513) 742-2020.)
Occupational Health: Recognizing and Preventing Work-Related Disease, third edition, edited by Barry S. Levy and David H. Wegman, Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1995. A good textbook on occupational health designed for medical students but useful for others involved in workplace safety and health. (772 pages, $44.)
Protecting Workers Lives: A Safety and Health Guide for Unions, Chicago: National Safety Council, 1983. Provides a history of organized labor efforts in safety and health, discusses hazard recognition and controls, workplace inspections and collective bargaining for safety and health. (National Safety Council (800) 621-7619.)
Death on the Job, Daniel M. Berman, New York: Monthly Review Press, 1978. A "must read" for workers concerned with safety and health. A very compelling presentation about workers' compensation, corporate control of information, "the body count" and organizing activities by labor and coalition groups. (260 pages.)
Fear at Work: Job Blackmail, Labor and the Environment, Richard Kazis and Richard Grossman, Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 1991.
Ventilation: A Practical Guide, Nancy Clark, et al., New York: Center for Occupational Hazards, 1984. This guide contains step-by-step procedures for designing and building a ventilation system. It includes information on hoods, ducts, fans and air cleaners. Presents typical design specifications for five standard types of ventilation systems. Although written with small shops in mind, it is an easy-to-understand guide on ventilation. (117 pages, $12.95 plus $2.00 p&h, Center for Safety in the Arts, (212) 287-6220.)
The Politics of Cancer, Samuel S. Epstein, San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1978. A compelling book on workplace and environmental cancer. Presents case studies of the workplace, consumer products and the general environment; discusses the impact of cancer and prevention.
Double Exposure: Women's Health Hazards on the Job and at Home, edited by Wendy Chavkin, New York: Monthly Review Press, 1984. Collection of articles on women, their work and hazards faced on the job. Includes a section on work and reproduction, hazards at home and women organizing around environmental issues. Available from NYCOSH. (262 pages.)
Women's Work, Women's Health: Myths and Realities, Jean Stellman, New York: Pantheon Books, 1977. Contains useful information on women's job health hazards. Available at bookstores or from NYCOSH.
Working for Your Life: A Women's Guide to Job Health Hazards, Andrea Hricko and Melanie Brunt, Berkeley: Labor Occupational Health Program - LOHP, 1976. Contains useful information on reproductive hazards to men and women; easy-to- read; focuses on high risk industries for reproductive hazards. Available from LOHP or NYCOSH.
OSHA now charges for complete sets of their standards. Your local may be able, however, to obtain free copies by contacting your U.S. Senator or Representative or the OSHA Labor Liaison in your OSHA Regional Office. Ask for Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations for General Industry and Construction Industry. If you have a computer with a CD-ROM, a good buy is the OSHA CD of all regulations, selected documents, and other technical information. The CD is available from the Government Printing Office, (202) 783-3228, for $88 per year, $28 quarterly (no. 729-13-00000-5).
Some recommended free OSHA Publications:
Employee Workplace Rights (OSHA 3021) explains employee workplace rights under OSHA, including right to know, access to exposure and medical records, inspections and confidentiality.
OSHA Inspections (OSHA 2098) provides information on inspection priorities, the review and inspection process, inspection results and the review and appeals procedure.
Personal Protective Equipment (OSHA 3077) discusses the types of equipment most commonly used for protection of the head, eyes, ears, torso, arms, hands and feet. Also discusses the inspection and maintenance of equipment.
Chemical Hazard Communication (OSHA 3084) outlines the requirement of the HAZCOM standard, such as written programs, labels and other forms of warning, employee information and training and material safety data sheets.
NIOSH will fax or mail you a list of their publications. They no longer publish a publications catalog. You can fax publication orders to (513) 533-8573 or mail to NIOSH Publications, Mail Stop C-13, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, 1994 edition. A compact guide, the Pocket Guide is updated annually, providing basic information on specific chemicals for which there are federal regulations. The guide lists chemical names and synonyms, permissible exposure limits, signs and symptoms of exposure, monitoring procedures and requirements for personal protective equipment. A quick reference guide and a must for any safety committee. Single copies are available while supplies last.
NIOSH publishes Criteria Documents on specific industrial hazards and control technologies available in different industries. OSHA uses these technical documents in developing standards. Criteria documents detail health effects, recommended exposure limits, workplace controls and personal protective equipment, including respirators. In general, NIOSH recommendations are more stringent than OSHA's. The documents can provide you with useful information in your effort to upgrade safety and health protection at your company. Call NIOSH Publications at (800) 35-NIOSH.