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Introduction to the Health and Safety Manual

It is the policy of Centers For Disease Control (CDC) and Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, visitors, contract employees of other Federal agencies, and human study participants.

This Health and Safety Manual has been prepared in an effort to prevent injuries, illnesses, and death from work related causes and to minimize losses of material resources and interruptions from accidental occurrences. It is directed toward the control of all types of hazards encountered in the performance of official duties.

This safety manual is a part of a continuing program for providing safety information to personnel. We all share in the responsibility for the health and safety of our employees, contractors, and visitors. Use this manual as a guide in working safely in your workplace.

  • Purpose
  • Scope
  • Format and Organization of Manual
  • Development, Maintenance, and Revision Process

    • Purpose

  • The purpose of the CDC and ATSDR Occupational Health and Safety Manual is to provide employees with general guidelines for implementing a high quality safety program. It is not an exhaustive source document but rather an approach to safety.
  • The manual brings together information that will assist employees and supervisors carry out their responsibility in ensuring a safe environment at CDC and ATSDR for visitors, contractors, and employees.
  • All personnel should read this manual and conduct their work accordingly.

    • Scope

  • The information and requirements given in this Manual are applicable to all areas of the agency and represent only general minimum standards. They do not substitute for special operation manuals used in certain buildings or laboratories to meet specific situations. This manual will serve as a basis to which supervisors shall add safety measures relevant to their laboratory or work operations.
  • It must be emphasized that this is primarily an in-house manual. The procedures and requirements are established based on the facilities and resources available at the CDC and ATSDR. They represent, nonetheless, a code of standard safe work practices for use at other institutions.
  • The CDC and ATSDR Occupational Health and Safety Manual contains the objectives, policies, standards, and procedures that pertain to all employees. Specific responsibilities, administrative procedures, and operational requirements are described that are relevant to work and laboratory safety and the prevention of laboratory-acquired illnesses. It replaces all previously issued memorandums concerning safety that had general distribution and all CDC Manual Guides on Safety Management.

    • Format and Organization of Manual

  • The manual in its online hypertext format which will accommodate additions and will facilitate revisions of relevant sections to reflect organizational changes and updates as knowledge on hazard control accumulates. Change is ongoing in most fields of scientific and legislative endeavor.
  • As regulations are promulgated by CDC, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), this online manual will be updated.
  • Appendixes specific to a Chapter are contained at the end of the Chapter and identified with a prefix A
  • General exhibits are referenced in the body of the manual. Exhibits are numbered by adding a capital letter to chapter or appendix number. Thus, the first exhibit for this chapter would be Exhibit 1-A"; the second would be "Exhibit 1-B", etc.

    • Development, Maintenance, and Revision Process

  • All materials in this manual have been developed and maintained under the supervision of the Office of Health and Safety. The Health and Safety Advisory Board has provided guidance for all policy issuances, and the Occupational Safety and Health Committee hasCDC/ATSDR Occupational Health and Safety reviewed all non-policy material. Existing safety policy still in affect at the time of publication has been reviewed and updated if needed.
  • Additional material for inclusion in the safety manual should be submitted to the Office of Health and Safety. OHS will then submit it to either the Health and Safety Advisory Board if it is new policy or to the Occupational Safety and Health Committee for non-policy issues. The material may be submitted to the CIO's for approval as well.

    • Back to Health and Safety Manual Contents

    Office of Health and Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
    1600 Clifton Road N.E., Mail Stop F05 Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
    Last Modified: 1/2/97
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