Precast Inc. - July/August 2008 - (Page 59) obtain copies of his or her medical records or any other records concerning exposure to any harmful chemicals or substances in the workplace. Employers, as stated earlier, must provide a place of employment free of recognizable hazards. They must display the OSHA poster, publish any citation of violations, comply with the Standards, provide training, provide medical evaluations and follow the recordkeeping guidelines. Employers have the right to contest citations and penalties. Resources One of the most important services provided by OSHA is its Web site at www.osha.gov. The site is filled with useful information to assist workers, employers, and safety and health professionals in reducing occupational injuries and illnesses. On it you can find technical and training material, all the Standards, explanations and answers to questions about OSHA. There is also a “Worker’s Page” that explains in detail the help provided by OSHA and how to file complaints as well as a complete description of the employee’s rights and other resources. Another important tool on the Web site dedicated to Hispanic workers is the “OSHA en Español” (“OSHA in Spanish”) where Spanish-speaking employees can find the same information as on the “Worker’s Page” and also other publications and training materials. With the increasing number of Hispanic workers in construction and industry, OSHA has recognized the need to present this information in a language the workers can understand. OSHA has limited resources and cannot possibly inspect every workplace in the nation, or even send a compliance officer to investigate every single complaint. It must address issues on a case-by-case basis as to degree of importance and allocate its resources where they will offer the best benefits. It is therefore important for employers and employees to work together toward identifying hazards in the workplace in accordance with the guidelines offered by the OSHA Standards, and then applying some common efforts to eliminate those hazards. Having a hazard-free, injury-free and accident-free workplace is not the responsibility of a single person – it is a common effort shared by everyone at the workplace. Gustavo Gonzalez has nearly 20 years of experience in the precast concrete industry and safety. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Florida International University and is a former precast concrete plant manager. He is an instructor and Spanish translator for the National Precast Concrete Association and an OSHA Outreach Trainer. Structural precast and panel machinery Innovative Concrete Technologies, Srl Automating for Production Efficiencies BOOTH 1311 THE PRECAST SHOW PANEL WASHING AND FINISHING LONG LINE AUTOMATION CONCRETE DELIVERY AND VIBRATION For more information, contact Phone: 920-497-8725 Email: cti@cti5050.com Website: www.cti5050.com JULY/AUGUST 2008 | WWW.PRECAST.ORG 59 http://www.osha.gov http://www.cti5050.com http://www.cti5050.com http://www.precast.org
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