Occupational safety system and method

• US 20040138902A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Fanning, Michael J., Baca, Dennis M.
• Application Number:
  US10/362,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for making occupational health and safety information available. Occupational health and safety information is provided via a computer system deployed at various locations, e.g., such that the health and safety information may be readily accessed in the event of a material spill, explosion, fire or other life-threatening occurrence. Similarly, any event which may have an adverse impact on the environment would also give rise to a need to access the computer system. In particular, a request for health and safety information is received (300), the system retrieves health and safety information (302). An urgency of the request is determined and selected health and safety information is provided based on the request and the urgency (304).

Claims

1. A method for enhancing safety in the workplace, comprising:

receiving a request for health and safety information;

receiving an indication of an urgency for the request; and

providing selected health and safety information based on the request and the urgency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a portion of the health and safety information based on the urgency; and

providing the portion in a prominent manner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for health and safety information comprises:

receiving material safety data sheet information.

4. A system for enhancing safety in the workplace, comprising:

a database to store a plurality of health and safety information;

a terminal to receive a request for health and safety information and an indication of an urgency for the request; and

a server to search the database based on the request and provide the requested health and safety information based on the urgency.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the database comprises a plurality of information for material safety data sheets.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the terminal comprises:

a web browser to receive the request;

a processor to send the request to the server; and

an output to provide the requested health and safety information.

7. An apparatus for enhancing safety in the workplace, comprising:

means for receiving a request for health and safety information;

means for receiving an indication of an urgency for the request; and

means for providing selected health and safety information based on the request and the urgency.

8. A computer readable medium for configuring a computer to perform a method for enhancing safety in the workplace, the method comprising:

receiving a request for health and safety information;

receiving an indication of an urgency for the request; and

providing selected health and safety information based on the request and the urgency.