Mississippi State's Center for Safety and Health will make on-site surveys to advise companies of any existing or potential health or safety problems in the facility. There is no charge for the service, which must be requested by the business. Businesses as small as 11 employees and as large as 250 are candidates for a survey by the Jackson-based organization.
The center's consultants are trained at the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Training Institute near Chicago.
"Historically, we look at violations of OSHA standards and help the business come in compliance," explained interim center director Kelly M. Tucker.
OSHA provides 90 percent of the center's funding, with the university supplying the rest.
Although the center has completed more than 500 such surveys in the past two-and-one-half years, "we're starting to branch out," Tucker explained. "We're now trying to help companies develop detailed health and safety programs over the long term," rather than just making sure they are adhering to current operating standards.
Tucker said these programs should reduce worker compensation claims and prevent a large amount of lost work days. Among the programs the center offers are an emergency action plan, a fire prevention plan, a hazard communication program, a blood-borne pathogen exposure control plan, a respiratory protection program, and a hearing conservation program.
Citing the blood-borne pathogen exposure program, Tucker said the center will help companies set up a first-aid response team to deal with on-site injuries.
"In fact, if a company is located more than two or three minutes away from a medical facility, they are required to have first-aid responders, and they may not realize that," he said.
Many times, however, the compliance is less complicated, such as recommending the company provide neoprene gloves instead of cloth.
"We try to work with the employers," Tucker pointed out.
Companies wishing to obtain a safety and health on-site visit or to find out more about the center's programs may call (662) 987-3981.
This World Wide Web version of MSU Memo was modified and updated by Chris Brown.
For information about Mississippi State University, contact msuinfo@ur.msstate.edu
Last modified: Friday, 14-Jun-2002 15:59:04 CDT.
URL: http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/msu_memo/1995/5-29-95/safety.htm
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