NIOSH OFFERS GUIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN LOCATING JOB SAFETY, HEALTH RESOURCES

Contact: Fred Blosser (202) 401-3749
January 11, 2001

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers a new guide to help small businesses locate services and resources for preventing job-related injuries and illnesses.

"Safety and Health Resource Guide for Small Businesses," DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-100, is the first such compendium designed expressly for small businesses. It lists sources of free occupational health and safety information from government agencies, professional associations and other organizations. The listings include telephone numbers, fax numbers, web addresses, mailing addresses, and other details to help small businesses find information quickly and easily.

Access to practical, authoritative information is important for small businesses because they often lack the personal services of occupational safety and health professionals. Small businesses employ more than half of all U.S. workers, and are expected to continue increasing in number. The smallest businesses, those employing 10 or fewer workers, experience about one-third of all work-related deaths, even though they employ 15 percent of all workers in private industry.

"Safety and Health Resource Guide for Small Businesses" is available, along with other information from NIOSH, from toll-free 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) .