WPI has recently joined forces with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) through its Academic Support Program. The Program assists universities and colleges in their efforts to achieve a safe and healthy working environment, and develop students' knowledge and skills about environmental and occupational health and safety. It allows unlimited network access to seven comprehensive databases. Anyone using a WPI-networked computer has the ability to connect to the CCOHS system called CCINFOWEB. The address is: http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/ccinfoweb/main.html
A brief description of each of the seven databases follows.
MSDS Database
The MSDS database is a collection of over 96,000 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for chemical products. It contains the complete text of MSDSs exactly as contributed directly by more than 600 manufacturers and suppliers. The MSDSs are contributed by North American sources, many from multi-national companies which market chemical products world-wide.
MSDS records contain information such as: Chemical and Physical Properties, Fire and Reactivity Data, First Aid Recommendations, Personal Protection, Health Hazards, Spill and Disposal Procedures, Storage, and Handling
This database meets a growing international requirement for health and safety information on specific chemical products. It helps thousands of users world-wide manage their responsibilities under workplace, environmental and other right-to-know legislation.
FTSS Database
The FTSS database is a collection of over 53,000 French language Material Safety Data Sheets (Fiches techniques sur la securite des substances - FTSS) for chemical products.
CHEMINFO Database
Comprehensive, summarized occupational health and safety information on chemicals. Produced by CCOHS occupational health and safety specialists, each chemical profile uses non-technical language to describe potential workplace hazards and control measures.
Each profile provides a detailed evaluation of health, fire and reactivity hazards, as well as recommendations on topics such as handling and storage, personal protective equipment, accidental release, first aid, and hazard classifications, including WHMIS, OSHA and the European Union (EU).
Records are designed for use by health and safety professionals, employees working with chemicals, users and writers of Material Safety Data Sheets, firefighters, and other emergency response personnel. Records are in English.
Canadian enviroOSH Legislation Database
The Canadian enviroOSH Legislation collection contains health and safety acts and regulations, codes of practice and guidelines from Canadian jurisdictions - federal, provincial, and territorial. The topics covered include occupational health and safety, workers' compensation, environment and transportation of dangerous goods.
NIOSHTIC Database
NIOSHTIC is a bibliographic database which provides comprehensive international coverage of documents on occupational health and safety, as well as related fields. It contains detailed summaries of over 195,000 articles, reports and publications, spanning over 100 years.
NIOSHTIC sources include over 160 scientific and technical journals, NIOSH reports (published and unpublished), NIOSH research bibliographies, abstracts from CIS Abstracts, and personal files from respected professionals on selected topics.
NIOSHTIC is compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
RTECS Database
The NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) database contains detailed profiles of over 130,000 chemical substances. Each profile provides relevant toxicological information, hazard classifications, international occupational exposure limits, regulatory information, occupational exposure survey data and references to toxicological reviews of NIOSH and OSHA analytical methods. RTECS is compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HSELINE Database
HSELINE is a key source of over 184,000 references to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other European literature.
Produced by the HSE Information Service (UK), it covers a wide range of subject areas including: mining, nuclear technology, fire, flames, explosions, explosives, occupational hygiene, toxicology, hazardous chemicals, industrial air pollution, health services, welding, construction, ergonomics, robotics, industrial psychology and agricultural safety.
If you have any questions regarding this new Internet resource, please contact Dave Messier, Environmental and Occupational Safety Manager at x5216 or dmessier@wpi.edu.