Knowledge BaseCSAO's library is a vital industry resource
is first rate."Construction workers and supervisors who have taken a WHMIS Instructor Workshop program at CSAO's head office know how valuable the right information can be. That's because they've had a guided tour of CSAO's library and have discovered the up-to-date resources available.
When it comes to construction health and safety, CSAO's library is tops in Ontario and among the best in North America.
No matter what aspect of accident prevention is raised, the library can provide information. That may involve health and safety facts about tools and machinery, work practices, building materials, or hazardous by-products.
This information can be accessed directly from CSAO's holdings or at second-hand from other libraries and databases. But all of it is first-rate.
The library has a collection of over 10,000 books, periodicals, articles, standards, videos, and CD-ROMs-- all related to construction health and safety.
But in an age of exploding information that amounts to very little. That's why the library's capacity has been increased many times over through access to other sources. This involves a global data network that puts knowledge at the industry's fingertips.
Last year, the library processed hundreds of requests for videos and other information from labour and management in Ontario construction. More than 400 new publications were acquired and catalogued, including technical manuals, standards, legislation, and general reference works.
For many years, CSAO's technical staff have relied on the library for up-to-date information for reports, backgrounders, specifications, and similar documents for labour-management committees and other industry groups.
Increasingly, however, industry trainers, health and safety reps, and site supervisors are discovering the many ways in which library information can be applied to improve accident prevention on projects around the province.
While scads of information is available in raw, bulk form, the library also provides abstracts that summarize health and safety material of specific use to construction. Even better, a librarian is on duty every day to answer questions and meet requests from staff, training participants, and the industry at large.