U.S. Labor Department's OSHA offers assistance for Hurricane Gustav cleanup and recovery

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA offers assistance for Hurricane Gustav cleanup
and recovery

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of
Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be offering
the full resources of the agency to assist in protecting the safety and health
of working men and women responding in the wake of Hurricane Gustav along the
Gulf Coast.
"After the hurricane has moved on, the danger has not -- especially for
those involved in cleanup and recovery from this storm," said Edwin G. Foulke
Jr., assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "Cleanup after a storm of this
magnitude can be particularly dangerous, and employers and employees need to
take the proper precautions to avoid serious injury."
OSHA's hurricane recovery Web site at
http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html offers QuickCards and fact
sheets on dozens of different employee hazards or hazardous situations,
including information on flood cleanup, chain saws, heat stress, and dangers
from molds and fungi.
Public service announcements are being provided to area television and
radio stations informing listeners on topics such as flooding, electrical
hazards, chain saws and fall hazards.
Employers and employees looking for more information or with specific
questions should call the department's toll-free helpline at 866-4-USA-DOL
(487-2365).
OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 37 years. This
success is reflected in the latest data showing the lowest national injury and
illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded.
OSHA will continue to work diligently to focus its resources where they will
have the most impact in assuring that every working man and woman returns home
safely every day.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 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 process
improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit
www.osha.gov.
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at
www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in
alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST
office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your
request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is
committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to
understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations.
For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor

Sharon Worthy, +1-202-693-4676, or David Sims, +1-202-693-1898, both of the
U.S. Department of Labor