About the Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Resource Center

Federal environmental regulations are constantly updated, yet no adequate governmental mechanisms exist for informing Georgia companies about the frequent changes or additions made to those standards. Many of the state's firms, especially the small ones, have difficulty keeping track of evolving regulations or taking effective action to comply with new rules. As a result, companies incur substantial expenses in meeting environmental standards, either through fines or ineffective compliance efforts. Conseq uently, Georgia suffers unnecessary losses in economic productivity and environmental quality.

  The Mission

The mission of ESOH is to improve the accessibility of these services to the public, to disseminate information about federal and state environmental regulations to Georgia business, industry, community organizations, and individuals. ESOH collects information on federal and state environmental regulations and releases it through a Georgia Tech-based office and through a web site.

  The Center

The center has two forms: a physical collection of materials housed at Georgia Tech and this web site. The web site provides easily access to resource of information, incorporating materials originating from GTRI scientists and engineers, including reports, training and coursework guides, and documentation. It serves as a "gateway" into appropriate areas of the Internet for resources such as regulations and materials that support compliance. "Gateways" are web pages that focus on specific areas, incorporating on-site materials and linking related sites. These gateways can be tailored towards industry requirements as well as individual business and community needs and will include connections between our website and other organizations such as the Global Disaster Information network.

  Resources

The Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health (ESOH) Resource Center will offer important resources, online and through the on-site resource center in a variety of environmental areas, including waste reduction, pollution prevention, occupational safety and health, lead-based paint abatement, asbestos abatement, and hazardous waste management. The engineers and scientists who staff these assistance programs and teach in the GTRI Training programs are rich sources of information about environment, safety, and health regulations and methods of compliance.

There are many resources available on the Internet. In many cases the full text of regulations are linked to web sites as well as resources to support and enhance compliance. But these resources can be difficult to find for the inexperienced researcher, whether that person is from a community, governmental organization, company, or other university.

  Partnerships

The center has drawn together resources for a wide variety of needs and partnerships, including community involvement in brownfields reclaimation, occupational safety and health, hazardous substance disposal, and educational outreach. ESOH supports business, industry, local communities, and the scientists and engineers at GTRI, providing information directly as well as disseminating examples of successful reclaimation and compliance via this web site.

http://maven.gtri.gatech.edu/esoh/about.html

Last Edited: 04 Mar 00
Questions? Ask esoh@maven.gtri.gatech.edu