Check them out!

You won't find these films at your local video store, but if you need to find out how to meet department or UD safety training requirements, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) may have just the video you need.

With more than 100 titles, ranging from "Accident Investigation in the Workplace," to "Your Link to Fire Safety," the DOHS video-lending library offers a comprehensive collection of teaching and training materials that address the many program areas of safety at UD.

Subjects include general interest titles, such as "Power Tool Safety," a 19-minute film that stresses the importance of paying attention while using power tools and describes common injuries and how to avoid them, as well as the many specific-safety related subjects, including radiation hazards, toxins, poisons, contamination control and emergency response procedures.

While subject matter and presentation may vary with each title, all these videos offer correct information that meets local, state and federal regulations.

"They must demonstrate good safety practices in all areas," Robin Elliott, director of DOHS said. "We look for videos that are interesting and get the attention of the individuals or groups watching them. A good video will reinforce a point several times."

The department's use of videos as a teaching resource began when DOHS recognized the need to offer alternative training to meet specific needs of individuals and departments at UD.

"You can't always send a person to cover every request for safety training," Elliott said. "When you can't, you may send a video to be viewed by an individual unable to attend a regularly scheduled training session conducted by a DOHS presenter."

Elliott said that the wide variety of subject matter available on video permits a change of pace during training sessions while allowing presenters to focus training on areas of specific interest.

The use of videos also offers individual training opportunities for department safety committee chairpersons that help safety committees expand and develop unit safety programs.

Although most of the items in the DOHS collection are obtained commercially, several videos have been produced in-house featuring department staff members.

These videos, which address annually required training subjects, include "Biosafety Awareness Training," "Bloodborne Pathogens Training" and "New Graduate Student Safety Orientation." They also are available online at [http://www. udel.edu.com/OHS/safetytraining .html].

Elliott said DOHS welcomes feedback from department safety committees on the content of the videotapes they have used, as well as suggestions for other topics to be added to the training library. As a member of the Delaware Safety Council (DSC), UD is eligible to borrow materials from the DSC library.

The DOHS video lending program is provided for the UD community and a complete list of titles can be found at [www.ude l.edu/OHS/videos.html]. To reserve videos or for information, send e-mail to Donna Bowman at [Dlbowman@udel.edu] or to Patti Downs at [pdowns@udel.edu] or call 831-8475.