Health Hazard Evaluations Available
Do you know if your workshop program has any health hazards?
Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are
currently conducting a health hazard evaluation program which is focusing on the
occupational health concerns of developmentally disabled workers and their employers.
The issues typically addressed during a NIOSH health hazard evaluation include worker
exposures to toxic agents (exposures to airborne dust, chemical liquids, vapors, and
gases) , and to physical agents (noise, heat, cold, radiation, lighting).
NIOSH is a federal agency responsible for doing research in workplaces and making
recommendations that will prevent occupational illnesses and injuries. NIOSH is part of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is not a regulatory agency.
The agency has the goal of providing information to sheltered workshop managers and
employees that will help them ensure a safe and healthy workplace. There is no charge for
their services.
A recent NIOSH report containing a Health Hazard Evaluation of a sheltered workshop
addressed issues including Hepatitis B, exposures to airborne dust and solvents, and
whether a worker’s death was related to workplace conditions.
One of the report’s recommendations was that workers with developmental disabilities
would benefit from increased management awareness of worker exposures and a more proactive
approach to occupational health safety.
The Arc of the United States is urging that chapters which operate workshop programs take
advantage of NIOSH’s expertise and willingness to assist in preventing injury or
illness.
Currently there are NIOSH representatives available to visit your workshop or other
programs to conduct a health hazard evaluation with you. If you wish to learn more about
this program, please call Steve Lenhart at NIOSH (800-356-4674 or 513-841-4227) and
discuss your questions with him.
Back to Issue - July/August
1999
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