In keeping with the president’s memorandum on open government, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is releasing 15 years of data providing details of workplace exposure to toxic chemicals.
The data is comprised of measurements taken by OSHA compliance officers during the course of inspections. It includes exposure levels to hazardous chemicals including asbestos, benzene, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, silica and others. The data offers insights into the levels across industries, geographical areas and time.
“We believe this information, in the hands of informed, key stakeholders, will ultimately lead to a more robust and focused debate on what still needs to be done to protect workers in all sectors, especially in the chemical industry,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels.
With an understanding of these data and their limitations, it can be combined with other related data to target further research into occupational hazards and illness. In addition to this raw data, OSHA will soon make available an easy to use online search tool allowing easy public access to this information.
For more information, go to: http://www.osha.gov/opengov/healthsamples.html.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education and assistance.
For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
