Effectively Searching CCOHS Databases

1
Effectively Searching CCOHS Databases

• Laurie Tirone Jan Chappel
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
  Safety (CCOHS)

2
Formulating Your Search

• What is your search question or topic?
• Which database or data source should you use?
• What are the features of the search engine?

3
What is your search question or topic?

• Determine exactly what you are looking for.
• Create a search query that uses terms that are
  specific or unique to your subject.
• will narrow or limit your search more quickly.
• Avoid using common terms, such as safety or
  health.

4
Which database or source should you use?

• What kind of information do you need?
• general chemical information, or detailed
  toxicity reports?
• a specific piece of legislation or related
  guideline?
• published research from the health and safety
  literature?
• Learn what type of information each data source
  contains

5
What features does the search engine use?

• Natural Language Structure
• Boolean Operators and, or, not
• Word Stemming
• Truncation
• Relevancy Ranking
• Multiple fields/indexes for searching

6
Search features used in OSH Answers

• Natural language structure
• automatically ORs terms
• Word stemming
• Relevancy ranking
• More
• to find other documents similar to the one
  retrieved, check the More box and then click on
  Find Similar Documents

7
Search features used in chemical and
bibliographic databases

• Quick and Advanced searches
• Boolean operators
• automatically ANDs terms unless otherwise
  specified
• Truncation
• available in Advanced search
• Multiple indexes/fields
• more are available in Advanced search

8
Search features used in Canadian enviroOSH
Legislation

• Natural language structure
• automatically ORs terms
• Word stemming
• Relevancy ranking
• More
• to find other documents similar to the one
  retrieved, check the More box and then click on
  Find Similar Documents. This is only available
  when searching the entire collection, not a
  specific jurisdiction.
• CD-ROM version uses Folio Views 4.2
• Uses many very powerful search features.

9
Remember

• Become familiar with the search engine for each
  data source that you use by reading the help
  section this will save you time in long run!

10
Sample Topics

• Health Hazard and regulatory information about
  chemicals
• Ergonomics
• OHS Program/Policy
• CHEMINDEX

Page 10
11
Health hazard information about chemicals

• What are the health hazards associated with
  toluene?
• Check these sources
• OSH Answers
• CHEMINFO
• Legislation

12
Page 12
13
Page 13
14
Page 14
15
Page 15
16
Page 16
17
Page 17
18
Page 18
19
Regulatory Information about Chemicals

• My company has plants located in both Ontario and
  Alberta.
• What are the regulated exposure limits in
  these provinces?

20
Page 20
21
Page 21
22
Page 22
23
Page 23
24
Page 24
25
Page 25
26
Page 26
27
Page 27
28
(No Transcript)
29
Ergonomics

• Im looking for information on ergonomics.
• Check these sources
• OSH Answers
• OSH References
• CSA Standard
• CCOHS Pocket Guide

30
(No Transcript)
31
Page 31
32
Page 32
33
(No Transcript)
34
Page 34
35
(No Transcript)
36
Page 36
37
Page 37
38
Office Ergonomics Guide

• Available in
• Print format
• PDF format
• on CD-ROM

Page 38
39
OSH Program / Policy

• My company needs an official health and safety
  policy statement.
• How do I go about writing one?
• What type of information should go into one?
• What can the HS Committee do to help?

40
OSH Program / Policy

• Check these sources
• Legislation
• OSH Answers
• CCOHS Health and Safety Committee Pocket Guide

41
OSH Program / Policy

• From the Guide to the Occupational Health and
  Safety Act (Ontario)
• Employers Duty to...
• prepare a written occupational health and
  safety policy, review that policy at least once
  a year and set up a program to implement it
  (section 25(2)(j)). For guidance on how to
  do this, see Appendix A
• - (from Guide to the Occupational Health and
  Safety Act )

42
Page 42
43
OSH Program / Policy

• Guidelines from British Columbia
• list of reference material
• 14 Elements of a Successful Safety and Health
  Program. Chicago, IL National Safety Council,
  1994.
• Developing your Health and Safety Policy and
  Program A Guide for Employers. Toronto, ON
  Industrial Accident Prevention Association, 1989.
  
• Parmeggiani, L. Encyclopedia of Occupational
  Health and Safety, 4th ed. Geneva International
  Labour Organization, 1997.
• Rest, K.M. N.A. Ashford. Occupational Health
  and Safety in British Columbia An
  Administrative Inventory of the Prevention 1997.
  Available from Workers' Compensation Board of
  British Columbia, Films Posters.

44
Page 44
45
Page 45
46
Page 46
47
Health Safety Committees Reference Guide

• Available in
• Print format
• PDF format
• on CD-ROM

Page 47
48
CHEMINDEX

• Free on Web
• Provides identification information for over
  200,000 chemicals
• chemical names and synonyms,
• the CAS registry number, and
• a list of the CCINFO databases containing
  information on that substance.

49
Page 49
50
Page 50
51
Page 51
52
Page 52
53
Page 53
54
Page 54
55
(No Transcript)
56
Summary - When Searching for Answers

• Identify your topic or search question.
• Create a search query that uses terms that are
  specific or unique to your subject.
• Choose a database or data source.
• Learn the search features associated with each
  search engine.

57
Temporary access to CCOHS web databases
Until April 30, FREE access is available to

• MSDS / FTSS
• CHEMINFO
• RTECS
• CHEMINDEX(always free)

• HSELINE
• OSHLINE with NIOSHTIC
• CISILO
• Canadian enviroOSH Legislation Plus Standards

• OSH Answers is always free from the CCOHS
  website at www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/

58
Instructions for free access until April 30

1. Go to http//www.ccohs.ca and scroll down to
   Subscribers Corner.
2. Select a database from the list.
3. Perform a search.
4. Select a record to open.
5. When prompted, enter the user name IAPA2001 and
   the password TEMP.

59
Further Assistance
For help with access or searching, or to begin a
subscription to any CCOHS database, please
contact CCOHS Client Services 1-800-668-4284 cl
ientservices_at_ccohs.ca