It doesn't matter if you're new to safety or a seasoned safety professional, to do your job well, you must stay current. There is always something new to learn. In addition to attending conferences and workshops, staying current means doing research on the Internet. But sometimes it seems like there is almost too much information in cyberspace. Sifting through it all can be overwhelming.

Let me see if I can make the task a little easier. There are five reference sites for safety professionals that I recommend you bookmark.

1. Where to Go for Chemical Information

http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/

This site lets you search chemicals by CAS numbers, formulas, chemical name, structure, molecular weight and more. Along with the chemical, you'll find searchable criterion for each chemical, as well as all the other common names the chemical is known by. The latter is important because sometimes chemical are designated with one name for testing and another in packaging or for listing on an MSDS. So knowing each name of a chemical is extremely useful for checking compatibility.

2. Where to Go for Information on Occupational Diseases

http://www.haz-map.com/

This site is an occupational toxicology database designed to help physicians, physician assistants, occupational health nurses and industrial hygienists in the recognition of diseases caused by toxic chemicals. Haz-Map links jobs to hazardous job tasks, which are then linked to occupational diseases and their symptoms.

3. For Information on Health, Science and Engineering

http://www.asu.edu/lib/noble/scirefrm/biogra.htm

This website from Arizona State University can help if you are looking for information in science, health or engineering. Select from the specific topics listed or use the subject category of "hot links." Subject categories include: Astronomy/Space, Chemistry, Earth Science, Engineering, Health/Medical, Life Sciences, Math, Patents and Physics.

4. For Information on Chemical Safety

http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/glossary/GLOSSARY.html

A good chemical glossary is always very useful. So follow the link to The Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, at Oxford University in England and the Chemical Safety Information - Glossary. Click on the letter of the chemical you're researching and scroll down. You'll find a lot of excellent information, including types of information you wouldn't expect.

5. For Information on Miscellaneous Topics

http://www.gutenberg.org/

This is a personal favorite. Project Gutenberg is a great reference site and the oldest producer of free electronic books (eBooks or etexts) on the Internet. Hundreds of volunteers produced this collection of more than 15,000 eBooks. Most of the Project Gutenberg eBooks are older literary works that are in the public domain in the United States. All material may be freely downloaded and read or redistributed for non-commercial use.

Conclusion

I hope this short directory saves you time, money and aggravation in your Internet research. If you have a favorite link that you've found helpful in your work, send it along to bweissman@hillmanngroup.com for possible inclusion in my next article.

SAFETY TIPS

Greg Norman: World class golfer and author of the DIN-DIP principle.

DIN-DIP Can Be a Hole-in-One for Safety Equipment Checks

When trying to stress the importance of filling out "Pre-Operation Equipment Checks" I ask the work crew to use Greg Norman`s DIN-DIP principle: DO IT NOW- DO IT PROPERLY. It seems to help them remember.

Bill Nikolaisen
Safety/Trainer
Mudjatik-Thyssen Mining

Tip Xchange: SafetyXChange members often tell us that they need quick safety tips to include in their newsletters or safety meetings. Do you have a tip to share with your colleagues? If so, send them to catherinej@bongarde.com. (And let us know if we can include your name/company name.)

ASK THE EXPERT

Safety Best Practices

BARRY WEISSMAN, REM, CSP, CHMM, CHS-IV, CIPS
Vice President
Hillmann Group, LLC

For this week's "Ask the Expert," SafetyXChange is pleased to offer the services of Barry Weissman.

Barry R. Weissman, REM, CSP, CHMM, CHS-IV, CIPS has been involved in environmental health, safety, emergency management and business continuity planning for over 25 years.
Currently, he is the Vice President for Hillmann Group, LLC in Union, New Jersey where is responsible for their training program for clients, lead safety program and emergency response planning and business continuity programs.

Barry has worked in many and varied industries such as, consulting, pharmaceuticals, plastics, lubricants and consumer products. He has worked with solvents, inks, paints, textiles, plastics, oils, lubricants, building materials, precious metals, paper and cosmetics.

A Registered Environmental Manger (REM), a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Barry is also Certified in Homeland Security, Advanced Level IV and most recently has become a Certified Infrastructure Preparedness Specialist (CIPS).

Barry holds Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, a Masters in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a graduate of the Master Gardener Program with Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service. He also holds a Certificate in Training and Development from both Middlesex County College and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management Training Department.

He is an active member with the American Society of Safety Engineers, New Jersey Chapter, the New Jersey Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, both the New Jersey Chapter and the National Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Mangers and the National Fire Protection Association. Barry was just appointed to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee for NFPA 1620, Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning.

He is a life-member with the Middlesex County New Jersey Office of Emergency Management where is a Unit Leader and Training Officer.

Barry is also a SafetyXChange advisor and host of SafetyXChange's first ever webinar earlier this month. When he's not helping companies with their safety problems, Barry and his wife tend their Japanese Stroll Garden with its Koi pond and their specialty plant – Hostas.

If You Have Questions for Barry

Barry is available to answer your questions on general industry safety, training, chemicals, TSCA (Toxic Substance Control Act), RCRA (hazardous wastes), homeland security and emergency response planning.

Submit your questions to glennd@bongarde.com. Barry will try his best to answer as many of your questions as possible. We'll publish your questions and Barry's answers in next Tuesday's SafetyXChange newsletter.

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