APPENDIX J -- THE COMPOSTING HANDBOOK

SELECTED HEALTH AND SAFETY RESOURCES

Nellie Brown, Director of Workplace Health & Safety Programs, ILR School, Cornell University

Jane Gilbert, Principal Scientist, Carbon Clarity

Latest revision: 12/01/2021

There are numerous organizations and resources that offer information and guidance about safety and health in the workplace. Several focus on waste and recycling industries; others on related natural resource industries like farming and forestry. All are relevant to safety and health in the manufacture and use of compost. The following list includes, in no particular order, resources primarily in the U.S. with additional resources in the U.K. and Europe. Hopefully as this page evolves, organizations and resources from other regions of the world will be added.

• A great place to begin your search for safety and health information is the Cornell University Library Health and Safety Portal, (https://guides.library.cornell.edu/c.php?g=637571&p=4462744). It has links to a wide range of resources and is probably most of what you want.

• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) (https://www.osha.gov/) is the health and safety regulatory agency for the U.S. government. In addition to establishing standards and regulations, OSHA offers official safety recommendations and additional health and safety guidance. https://www.osha.gov/ (see also Appendix K)

• The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) (https://www.ccohs.ca/) is Canada’s primary public source of occupational health and safety information for all industries. CCOHS provides a variety of resources in English and French including newsletters, podcasts, data bases, publications, training and more.

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/) is the U.K government’s health and safety agency. HSE offers good information on a wide range of safety topics for all industries, including very useful guidance about hazard control and risk assessments.

• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (https://osha.europa.eu/en) EU-OSHA is the European Union information agency for occupational safety and health, and provides information, tools and good practice examples.

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm) is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is “a research agency focused on the study of worker safety and health, and empowering employers and workers to create safe and healthy workplaces.” (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/about/default.html). In addition to its research mission NIOSH provides a great deal of information and guidance through its publications and web pages.

• National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)  https://www.niehs.nih.gov/  is part of the National Institutes of Health. It is expanding and accelerating its contributions to scientific knowledge of human health and the environment, and to the health and well-being of people everywhere.

• “The National Safety Council (NSC) is a nonprofit, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health; members include businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Their many publications and training programs can be purchased through the web site; they also offer, free, fact sheets on over 80 safety topics, including those related to agricultural and environmental safety.” (Cornell University Library Health and Safety Portal)

• The National Fire Protection Association (https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research). As described on their web site (https://www.nfpa.org/overview ), “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global self-funded nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. NFPA delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering our mission. Our mission is to help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge and passion.”

• The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AHIA) (https://www.aiha.org/). As described on their website (https://www.aiha.org/about-aiha ), “AIHA is the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) in the workplace and community.”

• “The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum (https://www.wishforum.org.uk/) exists to communicate and consult with key stakeholders, including local and national government bodies, equipment manufacturers, trade associations, professional associations and trade unions. The aim of WISH is to identify, devise and promote activities that can improve industry health and safety performance” The WISH forum is one of the best websites for health and safety information for the waste-related industries and beyond, including composting.

• The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) (https://swana.org/initiatives/safety) has program initiatives dedicated to improving worker safety within the solid waste industry. 

• The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) (https://www.ciwm.co.uk) is the leading professional organization serving waste management and related industries in the UK and beyond. CIWM provides ad hoc information about safety and health related to waste. It has been especially strong in delivering COVID-19 information.

• The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) (https://www.necasag.org/) is an agricultural safety training organization that operates in association with the NSC and Northern Iowa Community College. It provides classes and educational programs covering a wide range of topics that affect workers in agriculture and similar industries, such as composting.

• The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) (https://www.asabe.org/) has standards and journal issues devoted to health and safety in agriculture and natural resource industries.

• The Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/agctrhom.html) is a program within NIOSH focused on the protection of worker safety and health in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries.

• The National Ag Safety Database (NASD) (https://nasdonline.org/about.php ) is a clearinghouse for agricultural health, safety, and injury data. NASD aggregates safety and health information from outside sources and distributes this collected information through its website.

• ISO/PAS 45005:2020 - Occupational health and safety management system  (https://www.iso.org/standard/64286.html) ISO 45001 defines the requirements for a management system for OH&S management, as well as giving guidance on its use.