OSHA 3351-07 2008

Preventing Skin Problems

from Working with

Portland Cement
Employers are responsible for providing a

safe and healthy workplace for their

employees. OSHA’s role is to promote the

safety and health of America’s working men

and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and

encouraging continual improvement in

workplace safety and health.

This informational booklet provides a general overview of a particular topic related

to OSHA standards. It does not alter or

determine compliance responsibilities in

OSHA standards or the Occupational

Safety and Health Act of 1970. Because

interpretations and enforcement policy may

change over time, you should consult current OSHA administrative interpretations

and decisions by the Occupational Safety

and Health Review Commission and the

courts for additional guidance on OSHA

compliance requirements.

This publication is in the public domain and

may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission. Source credit is requested

but not required.

This information is available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice

phone: (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY)

number: (877) 889-5627.

Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for

Occupational Safety and Health
U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA 3351-07

2008

Preventing Skin

Problems from Working

with Portland Cement
2

Contents

Introduction...3

Who is at Risk...3

Skin Problems Caused by Exposure

to Portland Cement...4

OSHA Standards Applicable to Working

with Portland Cement...5

Personal Protective Equipment...5

Sanitation...6

Hazard Communication...6

Recordkeeping...7

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)...7

Preventing Cement-Related

Skin Problems...7

Good Practices for Glove Selection

and Use...8

Good Practices for Use of Boots and Other

Protective Clothing and Equipment...9

Good Practices for Skin Care...10

Making Portland Cement Products Less

Hazardous...10

Bibliography...12

Technical Notes...16

OSHA Assistance...17

Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines...17

State Programs...18

Consultation Services...18

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)...19

Strategic Partnership Program...19

Alliance Program...20

OSHATraining and Education...20

Information Available Electronically...21

OSHA Publications...22

Contacting OSHA...22

OSHA Regional Offices...23
Introduction

Portland cement is a generic term used to describe

a variety of building materials valued for their

strong adhesive properties when mixed with

water. Employees who work with portland cement

are at risk of developing skin problems, ranging

from mild and brief to severe and chronic.

Wet portland cement can damage the skin

because it is caustic, abrasive, and absorbs moisture. Portland cement also contains trace amounts

of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], a toxin harmful to

the skin. Dry portland cement is less hazardous to

the skin because it is not as caustic as wet cement.

The purpose of this document is to make

employers and employees aware of the skin problems associated with exposure to portland cement;

to note the OSHA standards that apply to work

with portland cement; and to provide guidance on

how to prevent cement-related skin problems.

Measures to protect employees from inhalation

and eye hazards associated with exposure to portland cement are also noted.

Who is at Risk

Any employee who has skin contact with wet

portland cement has the potential to develop

cement-related skin problems. Portland cement is

an ingredient in the following materials:

■ concrete

■ mortar

■ plaster

■ grout

■ stucco

■ terrazzo

There are many different tasks that involve the

use of portland cement. Examples of employees

who may be exposed to the dangers of wet portland cement products include bricklayers, carpenters, cement masons, concrete finishers, hod carriers,

1 laborers, plasterers, tile setters, terrazzo

3
workers, ready-mixed concrete truck drivers,

bucket and buggy operators, and those involved

in pouring and finishing work.

Skin Problems Caused by

Exposure to Portland Cement

Wet portland cement can cause caustic burns,

sometimes referred to as cement burns. Cement

burns may result in blisters, dead or hardened

skin, or black or green skin. In severe cases, these

burns may extend to the bone and cause disfiguring scars or disability.

Employees cannot rely on pain or discomfort

to alert them to cement burns because cement

burns may not cause immediate pain or discomfort. By the time an employee becomes aware of

a cement burn, much damage has already been

done. Cement burns can get worse even after skin

contact with cement has ended. Any employee

experiencing a cement burn is advised to see a

health care professional immediately.

Skin contact with wet portland cement can also

cause inflammation of the skin, referred to as dermatitis. Signs and symptoms of dermatitis can

include itching, redness, swelling, blisters, scaling,

and other changes in the normal condition of the

skin.

Contact with wet portland cement can cause a

non-allergic form of dermatitis (called irritant contact dermatitis) which is related to the caustic,

abrasive, and drying properties of portland cement.

In addition, Cr(VI) can cause an allergic form of

dermatitis (allergic contact dermatitis, or ACD) in

sensitized employees who work with wet portland

cement. When an employee is sensitized, that person’s immune system overreacts to small

amounts of Cr(VI), which can lead to severe

inflammatory reactions upon subsequent exposures. Sensitization may result from a single Cr(VI)

exposure, from repeated exposures over the

4
course of months or years, or it may not occur at

all. After an employee becomes sensitized, brief

skin contact with very small amounts of Cr(VI) can

trigger ACD.

ACD is long-lasting and employees can remain

sensitized to Cr(VI) years after their exposure to

portland cement has ended. Medical tests (e.g.,

skin patch tests) are available that can confirm

whether an employee has become dermally sensitized to Cr(VI).

Employees who work with wet portland

cement and experience skin problems, including

seemingly minor ones, are advised to see a health

care professional for evaluation and treatment. In

cement-related dermatitis, early diagnosis and

treatment can help prevent chronic skin problems.

SEE A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL IF YOU

WORK WITH WET PORTLAND CEMENT AND

HAVE SKIN PROBLEMS!!

OSHA Standards Applicable to

Working with Portland Cement

Several OSHA standards require employers to

take steps to protect employees from hazards

associated with exposure to portland cement.

These standards include requirements for:

Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1926

Subpart E for construction; 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I

for general industry; 29 CFR 1915 Subpart I for

shipyards)

OSHA’s personal protective equipment (PPE)

standards require that PPE be provided, used, and

maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition

whenever it is necessary to protect employees

from injury or impairment. The employer must

provide PPE such as boots and gloves as necessary and appropriate for jobs involving exposure

to portland cement and ensure these items are

maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition

5
when not in use. Employees must be able to clean

or exchange PPE if it becomes ineffective or contaminated on the inside with portland cement

while in use. In addition, employers are required

to provide PPE at no cost to their employees with

limited exceptions (1910.132(h)).

Sanitation (29 CFR 1926.51 for construction; 29

CFR 1910.141 for general industry; 29 CFR 1915.97

for shipyards)

Construction employers must make washing

facilities available for employees exposed to portland cement. Washing facilities must provide

clean water, non-alkaline soap, and clean towels.

Such facilities must be readily accessible to

exposed employees and adequate for the number

of employees exposed. The sanitation requirements for general industry and shipyards are similar to those for construction.

Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1926.59 for construction; 29 CFR 1910.1200 for general industry;

29 CFR 1915.1200 for shipyards) and Safety

Training (29 CFR 1926.21 for construction)

The Hazard Communication standard requires

that manufacturers and importers provide information on material safety data sheets (MSDSs)

and labels about the hazards of portland cement.

Employers must make these MSDSs and labels

available to employees. The Hazard Communication and Safety Training standards also require

employers to provide training to communicate the

hazards of exposure to portland cement to their

employees. This training must address:

■ the hazards associated with exposure to portland cement, including hazards associated with

the cement’s Cr(VI) content;

■ preventive measures, including proper use and

care of PPE and the importance of proper

hygiene practices; and

6
■ employee access to hygiene facilities, PPE, and

information (including MSDSs).

Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)

Employers subject to OSHA recordkeeping

requirements must inform employees of how to

report work-related injuries and illnesses and

record all new cases of work-related injury and illness (including cement burns and cases of dermatitis) that result in days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or are otherwise determined

to be a significant injury or illness by a physician or

other licensed health care professional.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) (29 CFR 1926.55

for construction; 29 CFR 1910.1000 for general

industry; 29 CFR 1915.1000 for shipyards)

OSHA has established a permissible exposure

limit to address the inhalation hazards of working

with dry portland cement. Employers must limit

airborne exposure to portland cement to 15 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3

) of air for total

dust and 5 mg/m3 for respirable dust. Because the

Cr(VI) content in portland cement is so low, it is

anticipated that by meeting the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3 for portland cement,

employers will also meet the Cr(VI) PEL and the

action level of 5 and 2.5 micrograms per cubic

meter (μg/m3), respectively (see 1926.1126).

Preventing Cement-Related

Skin Problems

The best way to prevent cement-related skin problems is to minimize skin contact with wet portland

cement. Compliance with OSHA’s requirements

for provision of PPE, washing facilities, hazard

communication and safety training, along with the

good skin hygiene and work practices listed below,

will protect against hazardous contact with wet

cement.

7
Good Practices for Glove Selection and Use

■ Provide the proper gloves for employees who

may come into contact with wet portland

cement. Consult the glove supplier or the

cement manufacturer’s MSDS for help in

choosing the proper gloves. Butyl or nitrile

gloves (rather than cotton or leather gloves)

are frequently recommended for caustic materials such as portland cement.

■ Use only well-fitting gloves. Loose-fitting

gloves let cement in. Often the use of gloves

and clothing makes exposure worse when

cement gets inside or soaks through the garment. Use glove liners for added comfort.

■ Wash hands before putting on gloves. Wash

hands every time gloves are removed.

■ Dry hands with a clean cloth or paper towel

before putting on gloves.

■ Protect arms and hands by wearing a longsleeved shirt with the sleeves duct-taped to

gloves to prevent wet cement from getting

inside the gloves.

■ Follow proper procedures for removing gloves,

whether reusing or disposing them. See Table

1 at page 9 for proper procedures for removing

gloves.

■ Clean reusable gloves after use. Before removing gloves, clean the outside by rinsing or wiping off any wet cement. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for glove cleaning. Place clean

and dry gloves in a plastic storage bag and

store them in a cool, dry place away from tools.

■ Throw out grossly contaminated or worn-out

gloves.

■ Keep the inside of gloves clean and dry.

■ Do not use barrier creams or “invisible

gloves.” These products are not effective in

protecting the skin from portland cement hazards.

8
Table 1. Steps for safe glove removal:

1. Wash off the outside of your gloves while

you are still wearing them.

2. Loosen gloves on both hands, holding

your arms down to prevent water from

dripping onto the skin.

3. Holding your arms downward, pull the

first glove down to remove only the glove

fingers. The cuff should still be covering

the palm of your hand.

4. Remove the second glove by grabbing it

with 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 Other

Protective Clothing and Equipment

■ Wear waterproof boots when necessary to prevent wet cement from coming into contact

with skin. It is as important to protect legs,

ankles, and feet from skin contact with wet

cement as it is to protect hands.

■ Boots need to be high enough to prevent wet

cement from getting inside. Tuck pants inside

and wrap duct tape around the top of the

boots to prevent wet cement from entering.

■ Select boots that are sturdy, strong enough to

resist punctures and tears, and slip-resistant.

■ Change protective boots if they become ineffective or contaminated on the inside with wet

cement while in use.

■ Change out of any work clothes that become

contaminated with wet cement and keep contaminated work clothes separate from street

clothes.

9
■ When kneeling on wet cement use waterproof

kneepads or dry kneeboards to prevent the

knees from coming into contact with the

cement.

■ Wear proper eye protection when working with

portland cement.

Good Practices for Skin Care

■ Wash areas of the skin that come into contact

with wet cement in clean, cool water. Use a

pH-neutral or slightly acidic soap. Check with

the soap supplier or manufacturer for information on the acidity and alkalinity of the soap.

2

■ Consider using a mildly acidic solution such as

diluted vinegar or a buffering solution to neutralize caustic residues of cement on the skin.

3

■ Do not wash with abrasives or waterless hand

cleaners, such as alcohol-based gels or citrus

cleaners.

■ Avoid wearing watches and rings at work since

wet cement can collect under such items.

■ Do not use lanolin, petroleum jelly, or other

skin softening products. These substances can

seal cement residue to the skin, increase the

skin’s ability to absorb contaminants, and irritate the skin. Skin softening products also

should not be used to treat cement burns.

Making Portland Cement Products

Less Hazardous

In recent decades there have been efforts to

reduce the risk of developing cement-related skin

problems by lowering the Cr(VI) content of portland cement. Cr(VI) is not intentionally added to

portland cement and it does not serve any functional purpose. There are a variety of ways to

minimize the amount of Cr(VI) in portland cement,

including:

10
■ Using slag, which is free of Cr(VI), in place of

or blended with clinker, the primary source of

Cr(VI) in portland cement. Slag is a by-product

of the iron ore extraction process and has been

used in concrete projects in the United States

for over a century.

■ Adding ferrous sulfate to portland cement may

lower the Cr(VI) content of the cement. Use of

ferrous sulfate has reportedly led to a decline

in cases of allergic contact dermatitis in several

countries (Goh et al., 1996; Avnstorp, 1989;

Roto et al., 1996).

4

Lowering the Cr(VI) content of portland cement

can lessen, but not entirely eliminate, the risk of

acquiring allergic contact dermatitis. It will not

eliminate the other skin hazards posed by wet

portland cement. Employers and employees need

to take all necessary precautions to prevent skin

contact with wet portland cement whether or not

the cement contains measurable amounts of

Cr(VI). Wearing proper gloves and other protective

equipment, and following good skin care and

work practices, provide the best protection against

the skin hazards posed by wet portland cement.

11
Bibliography

In Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry (ATSDR); “Toxicological profile for

chromium”; ATSDRToxicological Profile, 88/10,

2000; U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA.

Avnstorp, C.; “Prevalence of cement eczema in

Denmark before and since addition of ferrous sulfate to Danish cement”; Acta DematoVenereologica, 69(2), pp. 151-155, 1989;

Stockholm.

Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR)

Consortium on Preventing Contact Dermatitis; A

Safety and Health Practitioner’s Guide to Skin

Protection, 2000a; Researched, developed, and

produced by FOF Communications; Available online at:

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/d0

00458.html. Also includes an employee safety

pamphlet online at:

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/br

ochure.PDF, and

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000458/br

ochure2.PDF

CPWR; SaveYour Skin; 2000b; Produced by FOF

Communications; Available online at:

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000280/d0

00280.html

CPWR; An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection,

2000c; Researched, developed, and produced by

FOF Communications; Available online at:

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0400/d000457/d0

00457.html

CPWR; SaveYour Skin: A 15-MinuteTool Box

Session, 2000d; Produced by FOF

Communications; Available online at:

12
http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0300/d000303/d0

00303.html

“Comments of Building and Construction Trades

Department, AFL-CIO, in Response to OSHA’s

Request for Comments on Exposure to

Hexavalent Chromium”; Docket H-054a, Exhibit

31-6-1, pp. 7-8, November 19, 2002. (Re: OSHA’s,

“Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium

(Cr(VI)), Request for Information”; Federal

Register, 67 FR 54389-54394, August 22, 2002,

(Exhibit 30).

CPWR; “Nonfatal Skin Diseases and Disorders in

Construction”; The Construction Chart Book, 3rd

Edition, Chapter 46, September 2002; CPWR is

located in Silver Spring, MD.

Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and

the Environment (CSTEE); Opinion on Risks to

Health from Chromium VI in Cement, June 27,

2002; European Commission, Brussels.

De Raeve, H., Vandecasteele, C., Demedts, M.,

Nemery, B.; ”Dermal and respiratory sensitization

to chromate in a cement floorer”; American

Journal of Industrial Medicine, 34(2), pp. 169-76,

1998.

Goh, C.L., Gan, S.L.; “Change in cement manufacturing process, a cause for decline in chromate

allergy?”; 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

13
Technology., Volume 5, 4th edition, 1993; John

Wiley & Sons, New York.

Irvine, C., Pugh, C.E., Hansen, E.J., and Rycroft,

R.J.; “Cement dermatitis in underground workers

during construction of the Channel Tunnel”;

Occupational Medicine, 44(1), pp. 17-23, February

1994; London.

National Slag Association (NSA); National Slag

Association News, Publications, and Slag Industry

Publications Archives; West Lawn, PA; Available

online at: http://www.nationalslag.org/

Occupational Safety and Health Administration;

“Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent

Chromium, Final Rule”; Federal Register, 71 FR

10100, February 28, 2006.

Rafnsson, V., Gunnarsdottir, H., Kiilunen, M.; “Risk

of 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 of

chromium dermatitis among construction workers”; Contact Dermatitis, 34(1), pp. 43-50, 1996.

Sahai, D.; “Cement Hazards and Controls: Health

Risks and Precautions in Using Portland Cement”;

Construction Safety Magazine, 12(2), Summer

2001; Available at:

http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0500/d000513/d0

00513.html

14
Shaw Environmental, Inc.; Industry Profile,

Exposure Profile,Technological Feasibility

Evaluation, and Environmental Impact for

Industries Affected by a Revised OSHA Standard

for 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 Slag

Cement?” Slag Cement; Slag Cement Association,

Sugar Land, Texas; Available online at:

http://www.slagcement.org

Spoo, J. and P. Elsner; “Cement burns: a review

1960-2000”; 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 dermatitis potential of environmental exposure to

hexavalent chromium”; Journal of Toxicology and

Environmental 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 a

country where ferrous sulfate has been added to

cement since 1981”; Contact Dermatitis, 35, pp.

83-85, 1996; Munksgaard, Denmark.

15
Technical Notes

1 Hod carriers transport mortar, bricks, and concrete in a vee shaped trough (called a hod) to

other employees.

2 “An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection” (see

CPWR, 2000c in the bibliography) contains a partial list of pH-neutral or moderately acidic liquid

and bar soaps.

3 “An Employer’s Guide to Skin Protection” (see

CPWR, 2000c in the bibliography) contains some

information on neutralizing and buffering products.

4 After Denmark required the addition of ferrous

sulfate to reduce the Cr(VI) content of cement to

less than 2 parts per million, studies showed a

reduction in the prevalence of Cr(VI) allergy (Irvine

et al., 1994). However, some U.S. cement manufacturers who have experimented with the use of

ferrous sulfate have not been able to achieve significant Cr(VI) reduction. The reasons for this

inability may be due to variations in the Cr(VI)

content of cement and the amount of time that

passes between cement manufacture and use.

Time delays are an important consideration

because ferrous sulfate may lose its effectiveness

over time, depending on how cement is packaged

and on humidity and temperature conditions during storage.

16
OSHA Assistance

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of programs, including technical assistance

about effective safety and health programs, state

plans, workplace consultations, voluntary protection

programs, strategic partnerships, training and

education, and more. An overall commitment to

workplace safety and health can add value to your

business, to your workplace, and to your life.

Safety and Health Program

Management Guidelines

Effective management of employee safety and

health protection is a decisive factor in reducing

the extent and severity of work-related injuries

and illnesses and their related costs. In fact, an

effective safety and health program forms the

basis of good employee protection, can save time

and money, increase productivity and reduce

employee injuries, illnesses, and related workers’

compensation costs.

To assist employers and employees in developing effective safety and health programs, OSHA

published recommended Safety and Health

Program Management Guidelines (54 Federal

Register (16): 3904-3916, January 26, 1989). These

voluntary guidelines can be applied to all places

of employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elements

critical to the development of a successful safety

and 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 achieve

an effective safety and health program. The

Federal Register notice is available online at

www.osha.gov.

17
State Programs

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

(OSH Act) encourages states to develop and

operate their own job safety and health plans.

OSHA approves and monitors these plans.

Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin

Islands currently operate approved state plans: 22

cover both private and public (state and local government) employment; Connecticut, New Jersey,

New York, and the Virgin Islands cover the public

sector only. States and territories with their own

OSHA-approved occupational safety and health

plans must adopt standards identical to, or at

least as effective as, the Federal OSHA standards.

Consultation Services

Consultation assistance is available on request

to employers who want help in establishing and

maintaining a safe and healthful workplace.

Largely funded by OSHA, the service is provided

at no cost to the employer. Primarily developed

for smaller employers with more hazardous

operations, the consultation service is delivered

by state governments employing professional

safety and health consultants. Comprehensive

assistance includes an appraisal of all mechanical systems, work practices, and occupational

safety and health hazards of the workplace and

all aspects of the employer’s present job safety

and health program. In addition, the service

offers assistance to employers in developing

and implementing an effective safety and health

program. No penalties are proposed or citations

issued for hazards identified by the consultant.

OSHA provides consultation assistance to the

employer with the assurance that his or her

name and firm and any information about the

workplace will not be routinely reported to

OSHA enforcement staff.

Under the consultation program, certain exemplary employers may request participation in

OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement

Recognition Program (SHARP). Eligibility for participation in SHARP includes receiving a compre18
hensive consultation visit, demonstrating exemplary achievements in workplace safety and

health by abating all identified hazards, and developing an excellent safety and health program.

Employers accepted into SHARP may receive

an exemption from programmed inspections

(not complaint or accident investigation inspections) for a period of 1 year. For more information concerning consultation assistance, see

OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)

Voluntary Protection Programs and on-site consultation services, when coupled with an effective

enforcement program, expand employee protection to help meet the goals of the OSH Act. The

VPPs motivate others to achieve excellent safety

and health results in the same outstanding way as

they establish a cooperative relationship between

employers, employees, and OSHA.

For additional information on VPP and how to

apply, contact the OSHA regional offices listed at

the end of this publication.

Strategic Partnership Program

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the

newest member of OSHA’s cooperative programs, helps encourage, assist, and recognize

the efforts of partners to eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a high level of

employee safety and health. Whereas OSHA’s

Consultation Program and VPP entail one-onone relationships between OSHA and individual

worksites, most strategic partnerships seek to

have a broader impact by building cooperative

relationships with groups of employers and

employees. These partnerships are voluntary,

cooperative relationships between OSHA,

employers, employee representatives, and others (e.g., trade unions, trade and professional

associations, universities, and other government

agencies).

19
For more information on this and other cooperative programs, contact your nearest OSHA

office, or visit OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

Alliance Program

Through the Alliance Program, OSHA works

with groups committed to safety and health,

including businesses, trade or professional

organizations, unions and educational institutions, to leverage resources and expertise to

develop compliance assistance tools and

resources and share information with employers and employees to help prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.

Alliance program agreements have been

established with a wide variety of industries

including meat, apparel, poultry, steel, plastics,

maritime, printing, chemical, construction, paper

and telecommunications. These agreements are

addressing many safety and health hazards and

at-risk audiences, including silica, fall protection,

amputations, immigrant workers, youth and small

businesses. By meeting the goals of the Alliance

Program agreements (training and education, outreach and communication, and promoting the

national dialogue on workplace safety and health),

OSHA and the Alliance Program participants are

developing and disseminating compliance assistance information and resources for employers

and employees such as electronic assistance

tools, fact sheets, toolbox talks, and training programs.

OSHA Training and Education

OSHA area offices offer a variety of information

services, such as compliance assistance, technical

advice, publications, audiovisual aids, and speakers for special engagements. OSHA’s Training

Institute in Arlington Heights, IL, provides basic

and advanced courses in safety and health for

Federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, Federal agency personnel, and private

sector employers, employees, and their representatives.

20
The OSHA Training Institute also has established OSHA Training Institute Education Centers

to address the increased demand for its courses

from the private sector and from other federal

agencies. These centers include colleges, universities, and nonprofit training organizations that

have been selected after a competition for participation in the program.

OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations, through grants, to conduct workplace

training and education in subjects where OSHA

believes there is a lack of workplace training.

Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients are

expected to contribute 20 percent of the total

grant cost.

For more information on training and education, contact the OSHA Training Institute,

Directorate of Training and Education, 2020 South

Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL,

60005, (847) 297-4810, or see Training on OSHA’s

website at www.osha.gov. For further information

on any OSHA program, contact your nearest

OSHA regional office listed at the end of this publication.

Information Available Electronically

OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available on its website at www.osha.gov. These

include electronic compliance assistance tools,

such as Safety and HealthTopics Pages, eTools,

Expert Advisors; regulations, directives, publications and videos; and other information for

employers and employees. OSHA’s software programs and compliance assistance tools walk you

through challenging safety and health issues and

common problems to find the best solutions for

your workplace.

A wide variety of OSHA materials, including

standards, interpretations, directives, and more

can be purchased on CD-ROM from the U.S.

Government Printing Office, Superintendent of

Documents, toll-free phone (866) 512-1800.

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OSHA Publications

OSHA has an extensive publications program. For

a listing of free items, visit OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov or contact the OSHA Publications

Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200

Constitution Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington,

DC 20210; telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to

(202) 693-2498.

Contacting OSHA

To report an emergency, file a complaint, or seek

OSHA advice, assistance, or products, call (800)

321-OSHA or contact your nearest OSHA Regional

office listed at the end of this publication. The

teletypewriter (TTY) number is (877) 889-5627.

Written correspondence can be mailed to the

nearest OSHA Regional or Area Office listed at the

end of this publication or to OSHA’s national office

at: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety

and Health Administration, 200 Constitution

Avenue, 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 safety and health electronically, and

■ Find more information about OSHA and occupational safety and health.

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OSHA Regional Offices

Region I

(CT,* ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)

JFK Federal Building, Room E340

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-9860

Region II

(NJ,* NY,* PR,* VI*)

201 Varick Street, Room 670

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337-2378

Region III

(DE, DC, MD,* PA, VA,* WV)

The Curtis Center

170 S. Independence Mall West

Suite 740 West

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309

(215) 861-4900

Region IV

(AL, FL, GA, KY,* MS, NC,* SC,* TN*)

61 Forsyth Street, SW, Room 6T50

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-2300

Region V

(lL, IN,* MI,* MN,* OH, WI)

230 South Dearborn Street

Room 3244

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-2220

Region VI

(AR, LA, NM,* OK, TX)

525 Griffin Street, Room 602

Dallas, TX 75202

(972) 850-4145

Region VII

(IA,* KS, MO, NE)

Two Pershing Square

2300 Main Street, Suite 1010

Kansas City, MO 64108-2416

(816) 283-8745

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Region VIII

(CO, MT, NO, SO, UT,* WY*)

1999 Broadway, Suite 1690

PO Box 46550

Denver, 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 18-100

San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 625-2547

Region X

(AK,* ID, OR,* WA*)

1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715

Seattle, WA 98101-3212

(206) 553-5930

* These states and territories operate their own

OSHA-approved job safety and health programs and

cover state and local government employees as well as

private sector employees. The Connecticut, New Jersey,

New York and Virgin Islands plans cover public employees only. States with approved programs must have

standards that are identical to, or at least as effective as,

the Federal standards.

Note: To get contact information for OSHA Area

Offices, OSHA-approved State Plans and OSHA

Consultation Projects, please visit us online at

www.osha.gov or call us at 1-800-321-0SHA.

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