OSH Answers Fact Sheets

What is contaminated personal protective equipment? Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects workers from hazards, including chemical (such as dust, soot, and ash), biological (such as bodily fluids), and physical (such as noise and radiation) hazards. Personal protective equipment can become contaminated when it comes into direct contact with substances or as a result of handling, use, transportation, or storage practices. For example, firefighters ’ bunker gear can become contaminated...

What is an occupational health and safety management system? A management system is a collection of processes, procedures, and other components coordinated to achieve its goals. In this case, the goal is to reduce occupational health and safety risks, prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, and protect workers’ well-being. A management system is typically made up of interconnected documents, such as: Policies: concise statements that set the foundation for the entire management system....

What does a wildland firefighter do? Wildland firefighters  work in natural areas, such as forests, grasslands and other similar environments to prevent and suppress fires, both nationally and internationally. Wildland firefighting is a physically demanding job which requires diverse skills, from operating machinery to managing complex fire operations in remote areas. Wildland firefighters spend prolonged periods in remote, rugged environments, often camping out in the field for extended...

What are examples of occupational exposures that have been associated with exposure to carcinogens? Examples of occupations and occupational groups that are more likely to be exposed to cancer risk are listed in the table below. Please note: This list was compiled from information available from reputable sources, but it is not complete. It represents associations that have been reported in literature between occupations and examples of substances often linked to cancer that may have been used...