Search CompleteMarkets

Variances Under Osha
INFORMATION DATE 19920814 DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights, FSNO. 92-12 TOPIC Variances SUBJECT Variances under OSHA ABSTRACT At times employers may not be able to comply fully with a new safety or health standard in the time provided due to a shortage of personnel, materials or equipment. In situations such as these, employers may apply to OSHA for a temporary variance from the standard. In other cases, employers sometimes are using methods, equipment or facilities that differ from those prescribed by OSHA, but that the employer believes are equal to or better than OSHA's requirements. In applying for a permanent variance, the employer must be able to show that his/her facility or method of operation provides employee protection 'at least as effective as' that required by OSHA's standard. U.S. Department of Labor Program Highlights Fact Sheet No. OSHA 92-12 VARIANCES UNDER OSHA At times employers might not be able to comply fully with a new safety or health standard in the time provided due to a shortage of personnel, materials or equipment. In situations such as these, employers may apply to OSHA for a temporary variance from the standard. In other cases, employers sometimes are using methods, equipment or facilities that differ from those prescribed by OSHA, but that the employer believes are equal to or better than OSHA's requirements. In applying for a permanent variance, the employer must be able to show that his/her facility or method of operation provides employee protection 'at least as effective as' that required by OSHA's standard. Temporary Variance The temporary variance mechanism is used when an employer cannot comply with OSHA requirements by the prescribed date because the necessary construction or alteration of the facility cannot be completed in time or when technical personnel, materials or equipment are temporarily unavailable. To be eligible for a temporary variance, the employer must put in force an effective program for coming into compliance with the standard or regulation as quickly as possible. In the meantime, the employer must demonstrate to OSHA that all available steps are being taken to safeguard employees. Identify the standard or portion of a standard from which the variance is requested; State the reason(s) why the employer cannot comply; Document measures already taken and those to be taken (including dates) to comply with the standard; Certify that workers have been informed of the variance application and that a copy has been given to the employees' authorized representative; Post a summary of the application wherever notices are normally posted in the workplace; and Inform employees that they have a right to request a hearing on the application. Temporary variances will not be granted to employers who merely assert they cannot afford to pay the costs of coming into compliance. Permanent Variance A permanent variance may be granted to employers who prove their methods, conditions, practices, operations or processes provide a safe and healthful workplace as effectively as compliance with the standard. In making a determination on a permanent variance, OSHA reviews the employer's evidence and where appropriate arranges a visit to the workplace to confirm the circumstances of the application. If the request has merit, OSHA may grant a permanent variance. Final variance orders detail the employer's specific responsibilities and requirements and explain exactly how the employer's method varies from the OSHA requirement. When an employer applies for a permanent variance, he/she must inform employees of the application and their right to request a hearing. Applications for permanent variance must contain essentially the same information as for temporary variance requests. Interim Order An employer may apply to OSHA for an interim order when seeking a temporary variance so that he/she may continue to operate under existing conditions until a final decision is made on the application for variance. Application for an interim order may be submitted with the application for a variance or separately. If the interim order is granted, the terms of the order are published in the Federal Register. The employer must inform employees of the order by giving a copy to the authorized employee representatives and posting a copy wherever notices are normally posted. Experimental Variance The experimental variance may be used by an employer to demonstrate or validate new or improved safety and health techniques. These variances are developed in close cooperation with the OSHA Office of Variance Determination. Defense Variance Another type of variance, not used to date, permits OSHA to grant 'reasonable variations, tolerances and exemptions to and from' the Act's requirements 'to avoid serious impairment of the national defense.' Defense variances may not be in effect for more than six months without notifying employees and offering a public hearing on the issues. Participation Employees, other employers and other interested groups are encouraged to participate in the variance process. Notices of variance applications, published in the Federal Register, invite all interested groups to comment on the action. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion.

Osha Help For New Businesses
INFORMATION DATE 19910805 DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights for New Businesses SUBJECT OSHA Help for new businesses ABSTRACT A booklet designed specifically to help small businesses comply with OSHA requirements is available through the OSHA Publications Office. It is entitled 'OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses' (OSHA 2209). A catalog, 'OSHA Publications and Audiovisual Programs,' (OSHA 2019), is available through the OSHA Publications Office. A kit containing 'free' OSHA publications may be obtained by writing or telephoning the OSHA Headquarters, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210 (telephone (202) 219-8021) or through the OSHA Regional Offices. U.S. Department of Labor Program Highlight Fact Sheet No. OSHA 91-43 OSHA HELP FOR NEW BUSINESSES This fact sheet will give you-the employer starting a new business- basic information about OSHA requirements and additional publications to assist you in complying with those requirements. Responsibilities As an employer, you are responsible under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to your employees. You must comply with standards, rules, and regulations issued by OSHA under the act. You must be familiar with the standards and make copies available to employees for review upon their request. Standards Copies of various OSHA standards may be purchased through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone (202) 512-0000). Payment may be made by check, GPO Deposit Account, VISA, or MasterCard. OSHA's regulations are contained in Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1900-1999. Standards covering General Industry are in two volumes: 29 CFR Parts 1901. 1 to 1910. 441, GPO Order No. S/N 869-011- 00109-2; and 29 CFR Parts 1910. 1000 to end, GPO Order No. S/N 869-011- 00110-6. Standards covering the Construction Industry are in 29 CFR Part 1926, GPO Order No. S/N 869-011-00112-2. In addition, there is a combined volume of Construction Industry and General Industry standards affecting the Construction Industry -- 29 CFR Parts 1926/1910 (OSHA 2207), GPO Order No. 029-016-00122-1. Standards covering the Maritime Industry are in 29 CFR Parts 1911 to 1925, GPO Order No. 869-007-00110-9. Recordkeeping Most employers of 11 or more employees are required to maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses as they occur. Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers regardless of size in certain industries are exempt from keeping such records unless they are selected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to participate in the Annual Survey of occupational injuries and illnesses. OSHA recordkeeping is not required for employers in retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, and service industries-Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 52-89 (except building materials and garden supplies, SIC 52; general merchandise and food stores, SIC 53 and 54; hotels and other lodging places, SIC 70; repair services, SIC 75 and 76; amusement and recreation services, SIC 79; and health services, SIC 80). Two forms are needed for recordkeeping: OSHA No. 200, Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and OSHA No. 101, Supplementary Record of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Employers selected for the BLS survey receive a form, OSHA 200S, in the mail. Copies of OSHA recordkeeping forms and publications on the recordkeeping requirements are available through the OSHA Publications Office, Room N-3101, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210 (telephone (202) 219-8021). The publications are 'A Brief Guide to Recordkeeping Requirements for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses' and 'Recordkeeping Requirements Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.' OSHA Poster Every employer must post in a prominent location in the workplace the Job Safety and Health Protection workplace poster (OSHA 2203 or state equivalent) which informs employees of their rights and responsibilities under the Act. The poster may be obtained through the OSHA Publications Office. Hazard Communication The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to inform their workers of the potential dangers of any chemical hazards on the job, and to train them in proper safeguards. This includes information on the hazards and identities of chemicals they are exposed to when working and the protective measures available to prevent adverse effects. Employers who use the chemicals, rather than produce or import them, are not required to evaluate the hazards of those chemicals. Hazard determination is the responsibility of the producers and importers of the materials, who then must provide the hazard information to employers who purchase their products. All employers must have a written workplace compliance program. Copies of the Hazard Communication Standard and the publication, 'Chemical Hazard Communication,' (OSHA 3084 Revised) are available through the OSHA Publications Office. Another publication, 'Hazard Communication Guidelines for Compliance,' (OSHA 3111) can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone (202) 512-0000). It is GPO Order No. 029-016-00127-1. A compliance kit on the standard with more detailed information and can be used for filing the employer's hazard communication and training programs, material safety data sheets (MSDSs), requests for MSDSs, and training or other records can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone (202) 512-0000). It is GPO Order No. 929-022-0000- 9 (OSHA 3104 Hazard Communication Compliance Kit). Inspections OSHA conducts workplace inspections to enforce its standards. Every establishment covered by the Act is subject to inspection by OSHA compliance safety and health officers, who are chosen for their knowledge and experience in the occupational safety and health field. A booklet, 'OSHA Inspections,' (OSHA 2098) is available through the OSHA Publications Office. Regional Offices OSHA has 10 Regional Offices. A list of those office addresses and telephone numbers, (OSHA Program Highlights No. 91-41), is available through the OSHA Publications Office. State Programs The Occupational Safety and Health Act encourages states to develop and operate their own job safety and health plans. OSHA approves and monitors these state plans and provides up to 50 percent of an approved plan's operating costs. States must set job safety and health standards at least as effective as comparable federal standards. (Most states adopt standards identical to federal ones. )Now 23 states or jurisdictions operate complete state plans covering both the private sector and state and local government employees. Two others, Connecticut and New York, cover public employees only. A fact sheet, 'State Job Safety and Health Programs,' (OSHA Program Highlights No. 15) is available through the OSHA Publications Office. Consultation Employers who want help in recognizing and correcting hazards and in improving safety and health programs can get it from a free consultation service largely funded by OSHA and administered by State governments using expert staffs. A booklet, 'Consultation Services for the Employer,' (OSHA 3047) is available through the OSHA Publications Office. Training Training courses in safety and health subjects are available to the private sector through the OSHA Training Institute, 1555 Times Dr., Des Plaines, IL 60018. For information on the subjects, dates, tuition, and location of these courses telephone the Institute Registrar (847) 803-4800) or write to the Institute. Handbook for Small Businesses A booklet designed specifically to help small businesses comply with OSHA requirements is available through the OSHA Publications Office. It is entitled 'OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses' (OSHA 2209). Publications Catalog A catalog, 'OSHA Publications and Audiovisual Programs,' (OSHA 2019), is available through the OSHA Publications Office. New Employers Kit A kit containing 'free' OSHA publications may be obtained by writing or telephoning the OSHA Publications Office, Room N-3101, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210 (telephone (202) 219-8021) or through the OSHA Regional Offices. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 219-6666.

Workplace Fire Safety, 1
INFORMATION DATE 19910815 DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights on Workplace Fire Safety SUBJECT Workplace Fire Safety ABSTRACT OSHA standards require employers to provide proper exits, fire fighting equipment, emergency plans, and employee training to prevent fire deaths and injuries in the workplace. Some of the requirements include building fire exits, portable fire extinguishers, fire suppression system and a fire prevention plan. U.S. Department of Labor Program Highlight Fact Sheet No. OSHA 91-41 WORKPLACE FIRE SAFETY Fire safety is important business. National Fire Prevention Week is intended to focus on the importance of fire safety in the home, in schools and at work. But workplace fire safety is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) principal focus and saving lives and preventing injuries due to fire is a key concern. There is a long and tragic history of workplace fires in this country. One of the most notable was the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911 in which nearly 150 women and young girls died because of locked fire exits and inadequate fire extinguishing systems. History has repeated itself recently in the fire in Hamlet, NC, where 25 workers died in a fire in a poultry processing plant. It appears that here, too, there were problems with fire exits and extinguishing systems. When OSHA conducts workplace inspections, it checks to see whether employers are complying with OSHA standards for fire safety. OSHA standards require employers to provide proper exits, fire fighting equipment, emergency plans, and employee training to prevent fire deaths and injuries in the workplace. Building Fire Exits Each workplace building must have at least two means of escape remote from each other to be used in a fire emergency. Fire doors must not be blocked or locked to prevent emergency use when employees are within the buildings. Delayed opening of fire doors is permitted when an approved alarm system is integrated into the fire door design. Exit routes from buildings must be clear and free of obstructions and properly marked with signs designating exits from the building. Portable Fire Extinguishers Each workplace building must have a full complement of the proper type of fire extinguisher for the fire hazards present. Employees expected or anticipated to use fire extinguishers must be instructed on the hazards of fighting fire, how to properly operate the fire extinguishers available, and what procedures to follow in alerting others to the fire emergency. Only approved fire extinguishers are permitted to be used in workplaces, and they must be kept in good operating condition. Proper maintenance and inspection of this equipment is required of each employer. Where the employer wishes to evacuate employees instead of having them fight small fires there must be written emergency plans and employee training for proper evacuation. Emergency Evacuation Planning Each employer needs to have a written emergency action plan for evacuation of employees which describes the routes to use and procedures to be followed by employees. Also procedures for accounting for all evacuated employees must be part of the plan. The written plan must be available for employee review. Where needed, special procedures for helping physically impaired employees must be addressed in the plan; also, the plan must include procedures for those employees who must remain behind temporarily to shut down critical plant equipment before they evacuate. The preferred means of alerting employees to a fire emergency must be part of the plan and an employee alarm system must be available throughout the workplace complex and must be used for emergency alerting for evacuation. The alarm system may be voice communication or sound signals such as bells, whistles or horns. Employees must know the evacuation signal. Training of all employees in what is to be done in an emergency is required. Employers must review the plan with newly assigned employees so they know correct actions in an emergency and with all employees when the plan is changed. Fire Prevention Plan Employers need to implement a written fire prevention plan to complement the fire evacuation plan to minimize the frequency of evacuation. Stopping unwanted fires from occurring is the most efficient way to handle them. The written plan shall be available for employee review. Housekeeping procedures for storage and cleanup of flammable materials and flammable waste must be included in the plan. Recycling of flammable waste such as paper is encouraged; however, handling and packaging procedures must be included in the plan. Procedures for controlling workplace ignition sources such as smoking, welding and burning must be addressed in the plan. Heat producing equipment such as burners, heat exchangers, boilers, ovens, stoves, fryers, etc., must be properly maintained and kept clean of accumulations of flammable residues; flammables are not to be stored close to these pieces of equipment. All employees are to be apprised of the potential fire hazards of their job and the procedures called for in the employer's fire prevention plan. The plan shall be reviewed with all new employees when they begin their job and with all employees when the plan is changed. Fire Suppression System Properly designed and installed fixed fire suppression systems enhance fire safety in the workplace. Automatic sprinkler systems throughout the workplace are among the most reliable fire fighting means. The fire sprinkler system detects the fire, sounds an alarm and puts the water where the fire and heat are located. Automatic fire suppression systems require proper maintenance to keep them in serviceable condition. When it is necessary to take a fire suppression system out of service while business continues, the employer must temporarily substitute a fire watch of trained employees standing by to respond quickly to any fire emergency in the normally protected area. The fire watch must interface with the employers' fire prevention plan and emergency action plan. Signs must be posted about areas protected by total flooding fire suppression systems which use agents that are a serious health hazard such as carbon dioxide, Halon 1211, etc. Such automatic systems must be equipped with area pre-discharge alarm systems to warn employees of the impending discharge of the system and allow time to evacuate the area. There must be an emergency action plan to provide for the safe evacuation of employees from within the protected area. Such plans are to be part of the overall evacuation plan for the workplace facility. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request: voice phone, (202) 219-6666.

Waste Anesthetic Gases
INFORMATION DATE 19910815 DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights on Waste Anesthetic Gases SUBJECT Waste Anesthetic Gases ABSTRACT The waste anesthetic gases and vapors of concern are nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as halothane, enflurane, methoxyflurane, trichloroethylene, and chloroform. The list of workers with potential for exposure to WAGs includes nurses, physicians-surgeons, obstetricians, gynecologists-operating room technicians, and recovery room personnel; dentists and veterinarians and their assistants; and other auxiliaries. Hospital emergency room personnel may also be exposed, but not on a regular basis. OSHA, therefore, has developed technical instructions designed to give guidance for coping with exposure to WAGs. The instructions cover sampling methods, leak test procedures, medical surveillance, disposal methods, training and exposure to WAGs. U.S. Department of Labor Program Highlight Fact Sheet No. OSHA 91-38 WASTE ANESTHETIC GASES Anesthesia is as common to medical care as is antiseptic care of wounds. However, for too long exposure to and control of waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) and vapors during surgical procedures have put health care workers in jeopardy. At any given time more than 250,000 people who work in hospitals, operating rooms, dental offices, and veterinary clinics, might be exposed unnecessarily to harmful levels of WAGs. The waste anesthetic gases and vapors of concern are nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as halothane, enflurane, methoxyflurane, trichloroethylene, and chloroform. The list of workers with potential for exposure toWAGs includes nurses, physicians- surgeons, obstetricians, gynecologists-operating room technicians, and recovery room personnel; dentists and veterinarians and their assistants; and other auxiliaries. Hospital emergency room personnel may also be exposed, but not on a regular basis. OSHA, therefore, has developed technical instructions designed to give guidance for coping with exposure to WAGs. The instructions cover sampling methods, leak test procedures, medical surveillance, disposal methods, training and exposure to WAGs. Exposure Concentrations. No worker should be exposed to concentrations of WAGs greater than two parts per million (ppm) of any halogenated anesthetic agent, based on the weight of the agent collected for a 45-liter air sample by charcoal adsorption over a sampling period not to exceed one hour. Controlled agents and their respective weights corresponding to two ppm are: chloroform, 9.76 mg/cu m; trichloroethylene, 10.75 mg/cu m; halothane, 16.15 mg/cu m; methoxyflurane, 13.5 mg/cu m; enflurane, 151 mg/cu m; fluroxene, 10.31 mg/cu m. When such agents are used in combination with nitrous oxide, levels of the halogenated agents well below two ppm are achievable. In most situations, control of nitrous oxide to a time weighted average concentration of 25 ppm during the anesthetic administration period will result in levels of about 0.5 ppm of the halogenated agent. The occupational exposure to nitrous oxide, when used as the sole anesthetic agent, shall be controlled so that no worker is exposed at eight-hour time weighted average (TWA) concentrations greater than 25 ppm during anesthetic administration. A complete WAGs management program includes at the outset the application of a well designed WAGs scavenging system. Such a system will consist of a collecting device (scavenging adapter) to collect WAGs and vapors from breathing systems at the site of overflow; a ventilation system to carry WAGs from the operating room; and, a method or device for limiting both positive and negative pressure variations in the breathing circuit which may be used by the scavenging systems. Most anesthesia equipment being manufactured today includes scavenging systems. The remainder of the WAGs management program should include work practices minimizing gas leakage, the application of a routine equipment maintenance program so that gas leaks are minimized, and periodic exposure monitoring and provision for adequate general ventilation. Work Practice Controls. Steps that can be taken to reduce gas leakage can include: (1) Make sure that waste gas disposal lines are connected. (2) Avoid turning on nitrous oxide or vaporizer until the circuit is connected to the patient. Switch off the nitrous oxide and vaporizer when not in use. Maintain oxygen flow until scavenging system is flushed. Personal Sampling. The primary method of evaluating WAG concentrations in air is by collecting a quantity of air in a sampling bag and then introducing the sample to an infrared analyzer. Sampling should be conducted based on the particular anesthetic agent in use. Nitrous oxide can be sampled by using devices such a large plastic bag pump or the Landauer nitrous oxide monitor. Halogenated compounds should be collected in charcoal tubes 107-110 using two tubes in series. Engineering Controls. A scavenging nasal mask consists of a compact double mask system. It must consist of a shroud large enough to capture exhausted/escaping nitrous oxide exiting from a patient's mouth. An inner mask is contained within a slightly larger outer mask and a slight vacuum is present in the space between the masks. The vacuum scavenges gases exhaled by the patient as well as any excess gas from the anesthesia machine that could leak from around the edges of the inner and outer masks. Two small hoses lead to the space between layers and are for scavenging. Medical Surveillance. A medical surveillance program should be made available to all employees who are subject to occupational exposure to WAGs. The program should contain: Comprehensive preplacement medical and occupational histories which shall be maintained in the employees' medical records with special attention given to the outcome of pregnancies of the employee or spouse, and to the hepatic, renal and hematopoietic systems which may be affected by agents used as anesthetic gases. Preplacement and annual physical examination of employees exposed to anesthetic gases. Employees should be advised of the potential effects of exposure to WAGs, such as spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities in children, and effects on the liver and kidneys. The records of any abnormal outcome of pregnancies exposed to WAGs and vapors shall be documented and maintained for at least the duration of employment plus 30 years. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request: voice phone, (202) 219-6666.

New Directions Program
INFORMATION DATE 19890617 DESCRIPTION USDOL Program Highlights, New Directions SUBJECT New Directions ABSTRACT New Directions is a national training program, funded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which has been awarding grants to nonprofit organizations since 1978. These grants provide 'seed money' to assist recipient organizations in developing programs to educate employees and employers about workplace hazards and their abatement. U.S. Department of Labor Program Highlights Fact Sheet No. OSHA 89-21 NEW DIRECTIONS PROGRAM New Directions is a national training program, funded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which has been awarding grants to nonprofit organizations since 1978. These grants provide 'seed money' to assist recipient organizations in developing programs to educate employees and employers about workplace hazards and their abatement. The goals of the New Directions program are: Institutional Competency. To develop the recipient organization's capability to provide training, education, and related services in hazard recognition and abatement. Self-sufficiency. To develop the ability of the recipient organization to continue providing a range of workplace safety and health educational services once the OSHA grants are over. Abatement of hazards. To promote, through training and education, organizational, and operational changes in the workplace to achieve improved safety and health conditions. New Directions grants have been awarded to labor organizations, educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations. The most recent awards to new grantees limited eligibility to the first two groups. Organizations awarded grants use funds to hire staff, develop the professional expertise of staff, develop educational programs, conduct training, and provide individual assistance to firms and employees to help them understand safety and health hazards, and steps to eliminate or control these hazards. Grants are awarded annually with renewal possible for up to five years. Annual grants are generally modest, with the grant recipients being expected to contribute some of their own funds to projects. Each year, the recipient is expected to increase its share of funding as OSHA decreases its awards. Results stemming from New Directions grants so far include: More than 650,000 people trained in workplace hazard recognition and control. Development of occupational safety and health educational materials specifically directed towards the needs of employees and employers. Increased cooperation by labor unions and their locals with management to establish joint labor-management safety and health committees. Inclusion by employer associations of safety and health as part of their regular program offerings for member firms. An increased awareness by rank-and-file union members of safety and health issues to the point where they are willing to pay additional dues to support full-time safety and health staff within their union. Provisions by the insurance industry of financial support for programs in recognition of their effectiveness in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses. Development at universities of core occupational safety and health curricula and expertise where none existed before. Organizations with nationally recognized areas of expertise which can be called upon for assistance in these areas by OSHA, the National Safety Council, and professional organizations. New Directions grant programs can provide services to other interested organizations and individuals. Grantee organizations have: Access to persons who can conduct training in specific safety and health topics. Strategies for educational approaches which are successful with specific populations and/or in the abatement of specific hazards. Course outlines and educational materials, including audiovisuals and student handouts, on a wide range of occupational safety and health subjects. Information and educational programs addressing occupational hazards, such as heat stress, which are not specifically covered by the OSHA standards. For more information, call the nearest OSHA regional office listed under 'U.S. Labor Department' in the government section of the telephone directory for Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle; or ask OSHA for their regional Office of Training and Education at (202) 523-1452. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion.

Terrace CIM Carrier Interface Management Software Terrace CIM is advanced, flexible software designed for the Insurance industry. CIM allows 1) carriers to create download files for agencies and 2) agencies to process carrier information and store it locally. CIM is a simple, fast 'out of the box' solution for your interface processing requirements. Elegant, Scalable Architecture Terrace CIM utilizes a simple architecture for creating and processing Insurance information. The server / schema architecture integrates highly-available Windows Server services with abstracted file descriptions. CIM Engine The CIM engine is built to process a high volume of data - unattended - with complete support for activity logging, error processing and failover. The CIM engine is bi-directional, facilitating the writing and/or reading of standard files. CIM Schemas Terrace has abstracted each Insurance file description into simple, self documenting XML schemas. These schemas drive parsing and storage of the policy and accounting data. All Lines of Business CIM is built to process a variety of data, including Policy files (Personal Lines and Commercial Lines), Claims and Accounting (e.g., direct bill transactions). CIM processes standard files (AL3, ACORD XML, CSIO) and non-standard files (Excel, ASCII, etc.). Agencies & Carriers Terrace CIM is built to support reading and/or writing of standard and non-standard insurance files. All vendor agency systems are supported.