The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new model to help businesses with mail-handling operations deal with the threat of anthrax in the workplace.

If your business is in one of several specific industries, your concerns about AIDS and your need to deal with them is far more complex than it would be in other industries because of the increased likelihood of exposure to contaminated bodily fluids or because of other health and safety requirements.

As the number of AIDS cases continues to increase, medical costs will continue to escalate. In addition to the costs of treatment for covered employees, cost of life and disability insurance will also increase.

The decision to create a formal policy depends upon the you. As with the creation of any employee policy, there are pros and cons. If you elect to create a policy, it should contain:

As the spread of AIDS increases, your chances of employing someone with AIDS or HIV increase. So, it's best to be prepared to handle the situation, should it ever arise. The following checklist may help you to effectively do so.

If you find out that an employee has AIDS, you will have several issues to deal with, including whether the employee will be able to continue to do the job and whether you should tell other employees about the employee's condition.

AIDS has become a workplace issue because some employers and employees fear that this fatal disease can be transmitted in the workplace. Additionally, employees who have AIDS fear that they will lose their job, benefits, friends, and more. Employers should worry about the health and peace of mind of all employees.

Treat an employee who has been diagnosed with AIDS no differently from any employee with a serious illness and take appropriate precautions (to both protect life and dignity) in your workplace.

Just as the hazards of the office are different from the industrial workplace, so are the injuries that can result.

Once you are aware of the office automation-related injuries and illnesses that your employees face, you can better prevent them.

Ergonomics is the study of the spatial design of job requirements and worksites in relation to human physical and psychological capabilities and limitations.

One important part of the on-going administration of your safety program and efforts is documentation. Document your activities in all elements of your workplace program. Essential records, including those legally required for workers' compensation, insurance audits, and government inspections, must be maintained as long as the actual need exists.

People may tend to think that safety in the workplace is an issue that needs to be addressed only by companies that perform "dangerous" work such as foundries, steel mills, and auto manufacturers.

As the workplace becomes a more dangerous place and as we learn more about hazards, new safety issues and concerns emerge. In some cases, OSHA is taking action, or is considering taking action, to address some of these newer workplace hazards.

Here are some things to take into consideration when implementing your safety program.

An effective accident prevention program requires proper job performance from everyone in the workplace.

It is your responsibility to know what you have in your workplace that could hurt your workers. Worksite analysis is a group of processes that helps you make sure that you know what you need to keep your workers safe. You may need help in getting started with these processes. You can call on your state OSHA Consultation Program or employ private consultants for this help.

If you are unable to contact your local OSHA Area Office, you may contact the appropriate OSHA Regional Office for information and assistance. Click on your state on the map below.

Once you know what your requirements are under OSHA, you can use those requirements as a guide to developing and implementing a safety program for your workplace.

Poor housekeeping is a major contributor to low morale and sloppy work in general, even though it is not usually the cause of major accidents. Most safety action programs start with an intensive cleanup campaign in all areas of business to get the attention of the staff.

Many OSHA publications are either posted in full text on the Internet, or available for downloading in .pdf format, at the OSHA web site. A single free copy of many publications can also be obtained from OSHA Publications, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Room North 3101, Washington, DC 20210; by phone at (202) 693-1888; or by Fax at (202) 693-2498. Be sure to include a self-addressed mailing label with your request. Below is a partial list of publications that are available for free:

Various types of consultation services are offered by OSHA and NIOSH to help employers voluntarily comply with OSHA standards and set up effective safety and health programs.