OSHA Computer-Based Advisors and Training Tools > OSHA GOCAD 2.0 Advisor

OSHA Software Expert Systems

OSHA GOCAD 2.0, the Cadmium Biological 
Monitoring Advisor 
January, 2000

GOCAD BACKGROUND: The original GOCAD 1.0 was the first expert system OSHA provided to assist the public to apply a complex regulation. It held the decision-making expertise of Dr. Melissa McDiarmid, Caroline Freeman, Louis Ligon, and Robert Biersner. It was first released in 1994 as a DOS program on the LaborNews Bulletin Board, then later on the OSHA Web site. GOCAD 1.0 is obsolete.

The new GOCAD 2.0 is a Windows-based, expert system. It applies the biological monitoring provisions of the Cadmium Standard that became effective Jan. 1, 1999. In addition,the program's utilities are substantially changed, to fit better the current computer environment.

For each employee, GOCAD 2.0 analyzes the biological-monitoring results, then prepares and saves:
  • A letter to the employee,
  • A memorandum for the employer, and
  • Notes for the physician's records.
For each run of the system, GOCAD 2.0 creates:
  • A summary of the run with the conclusion and ID for each employee,
  • A detail file designed for easy use with common database software, and
  • A serial log of the details.
This Advisor is decision-support, expert-system, software. It is distributed over the Web, but it does not look like or act like a Web site. The software is distributed from the OSHA Web site as a single self-extracting file, GOCAD2.EXE. It might take 5 or 6 minutes to download with a 28,800 baud modem.

INSTRUCTIONS for INSTALLATION and USE:
  • FIRST, create a directory, C:\tempgocad2\, to hold the software file.
  • Then download the software into C:\tempgocad2\.
  • Go to C:\tempgocad2\ and double click on GOCAD2.EXE to install the software in C:\gocad2.
  • Go START, PROGRAMS, GOCAD 2 to run the software.
  • REMEMBER that all GOCAD output files will be saved in the C:\gocad2 subdirectory.
  • You can read and print them with any word processor.
Download GOCAD 2.0, the Cadmium Biological Monitoring Advisor [This expert advisor is being reviewed and is not currently available.]

System design, and programming was done by Dr. Rodger Knauss of Instant Recall, Inc.
GOCAD uses Tailor, a logical text-mark-up language, expert system.

If you have safety or health problems in your workplace, you should contact your local OSHA office.
If you have a comment on this software, please contact: Edward.Stern@osha.gov