# 9 OSHA GUIDES I AND II
FALL 1975
Calling for joint efforts of providers, employers and employees to resolve workplace health and safety problems, this Quarterly continued and increased the pace of CCAHS’ efforts to increase public and consumer space.
The LSHI’s Guide #1, AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LIBRARY FOR A LOCAL UNION and Guide #2, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN THE HOSPITAL CLINICS AND EMERGENCY ROOM are included.
The first guide was developed to help unions build a library or data base related to workers’ health and safety and became a valuable resource for those individuals and organizations seeking to learn how to document information about workplace safety and health. The first guide offered general background information about OSHA and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and specific information to network to enforce worker health and safety on the job. Lists of other federal, state and union publications addressing OSHA/NIOSH and key organizations involved in the struggle.
The second Guide made for the first time for consumers and providers the importance of changing the culture of providers in hospital clinics and emergency rooms (and implied all practitioners) to include attention to workplace causes of illness and disease. Studies cited showed that 30% of illness and disease of workers were caused by workplace conditions.
The issue recommended language to be included in the taking of medical histories of patients, questions about their work and workplace conditions. These simple changes or inclusions would help identify causes of illness and disease and lend themselves to suggest ways to primarily prevent them. Summations of the impact of OSHA on hospitals are identified along with commentary of the need to improve the modest steps taken by a few hospitals which created occupational services, clinics and departments.
Guide #2 ended with additional lists of OSHA agencies, labs and poison control and several resource materials; all valuable to any hospital or union.