IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: Exploring the CDC and OSHA Websites
Purpose
In this classroom activity, you will visit the websites for the CDC and OSHA. You will
 Examine the content of each website
 Evaluate the types of content available
 Compare the missions of these two organizations and the materials and resources
that they distribute
Background
The concept of safety is an essential one for all laboratory scientists to appreciate. When
we speak of “safety” we are really talking about an active process of anticipating those
threats to our health and the integrity of our equipment, reagents and laboratory space,
and taking action to minimize those threats. In the lab, the consequences for unsafe
actions can be monumental—certainly, there have been incidents that have resulted in the
loss of life and utter destruction of the workspace. Working safely in the lab is a
requirement of any employee, and this is emphasized by the regulation of the workplace
by OSHA and other agencies.
Safety in the workplace is supported by a hierarachy—with the regulatory agencies at the
top creating the regulations workplaces must enforce. Employers occupy the next level in
the hierarchy, and they must follow various rules that ensure that they inform workers of
hazards in the workplace, and train their employees to perform their jobs in a manner that
protects both their health and the integrity of the workplace. The final rung in the ladder
consists of the employees, who are responsible for performing their roles in a way that is
consistent with the rules, regulations and practices set forth by the regulatory agencies
and the employers. Therefore, the employees are the front line for safety in the
workplace—and this activity is designed to provide you with an introduction to online
resources that will help you be a safe employee in the biotechnology workplace.
Classroom activity
Overview:
This activity has two parts. Part A explores the CDC website and Part B explores the
OSHA website.
We primarily think about the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as an
organization that combats disease. In fact, the CDC also provides extensive information
about many others aspects of workplace safety. In Part A, you will focus on those areas
of the CDC website that address chemical workplace safety.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) serves as the governmental
agency that has, for the past several decades, worked to ensure that workers remain safe
in the workplace, and that they have access to the information that they need to perform
their roles with minimal risk of injury. In Part B, you will examine the information
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available on the OSHA website that relates to chemical and laboratory safety, and you
will compare the content of the OSHA website to that of the CDC.
Please note that the topics highlighted in this activity are a starting point for exploring
these websites. You are encouraged to delve into additional topics than just those
indicated!
Instructions:
Part A: Exploration of the CDC website
1. Enter the CDC website by either typing http://www.cdc.gov into your browser, or
by searching “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” using your favorite
Internet search engine.
2. Explore some of the content of the CDC website, taking notes on the following:
a. What can you learn about the mission of the CDC? How is this agency
organized?
b. What resources does the CDC present related to safety in the laboratory?
List five different topics covered that will illustrate the broad range of
areas covered in this section.
c. Enter the following search terms into the CDC website search box,
examine the information that appears and list two links for each term that
you find to be useful. Search terms: “chemical safety”, “laboratory
safety”, “eye safety”, “protective clothing”
3. Write a brief review of the CDC website recommending it to a fellow student
beginning his or her first laboratory job working with hazardous chemicals.
Discuss:
a. What is the CDC?
b. How is the CDC organized?
c. What does the CDC do?
d. What is the CDC website address?
e. What types of information does the website include?
f. What types of information are available concerning chemical and
laboratory safety?
g. What are three areas that you consider a must-read for a new worker
entering a laboratory using hazardous chemicals?
Part B: Exploration of the OSHA website
1. Enter the OSHA website by either typing http://www.osha.gov into your browser,
or by searching “OSHA” using your favorite Internet search engine.
2. Explore some of the content of the OSHA website, taking notes on the following:
a. What can you learn about the mission of OSHA?
b. What resources does OSHA present related to safety in the laboratory?
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c. Enter the following search terms into the OSHA website search box,
examine the information that appears and list two links for each term that
you find to be useful. Search terms: “chemical safety”, “laboratory
safety”, “eye safety”, “protective clothing”
3. Write a brief review of the OSHA website recommending it to a fellow student
beginning his or her first laboratory job working with hazardous chemicals.
Discuss:
a. What is the mission of OSHA?
b. What is the OSHA website address?
c. What types of information does the website include?
d. How do the resources relating to chemical and laboratory safety that are
available from the OSHA website compare to the information that you
uncovered at the CDC website?
e. In what sorts of situations could you envision the OSHA website being
more helpful than the CDC website? When might the CDC website prove
more useful?
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