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The Occupational Safety
and Health Administration's (OSHA) final
standard for occupational exposure to hexavalent
chromium, or Cr(VI), became effective May
30, 2006. The standard, which applies to
general industry, shipyards, and construction,
lowers OSHA's permissible exposure limit
for Cr(VI) and related compounds from 52
to 5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic meter
(mg/m3)
of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
In April 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit directed OSHA to promulgate
such a standard in response to a lawsuit
by the group Public Citizen Health Research
Group. OSHA determined that the new standard
is necessary to reduce significant health
risks posed by occupational exposure to
Cr(VI).
The new standard was based on evidence gathered
during OSHA's rule-making process, which
included two weeks of public hearings along
with comment periods totaling more than
five months. On February 28, 2006, OSHA
published its final standard in the Federal
Register (71:10099-10385). Approximately
558,000 workers are covered by its provisions.
There are some exemptions to the standard:
- Application of pesticides containing
Cr(VI) (e.g., the treatment of wood
with preservatives).
- Portland cement usage in the construction
industry.
- A special provision that only requires
aerospace industry employers to use
engineering and work practice controls,
if needed, to reduce or maintain employee
exposures to 25
mg/m3 when painting
aircraft or large aircraft parts, to
the extent such controls are feasible.
The rule also includes provisions relating
to preferred methods for controlling exposures,
respiratory protection, protective clothing
and equipment, hygiene areas and practices,
medical surveillance, communication of hazards,
and recordkeeping. These additional
provisions apply when the action level is
exceeded, which is one-half of the permissible
exposure limit, or 2.5
mg/m3.
Although the standard took effect in May,
the start-up date for all provisions except
engineering controls is not until November
27, 2006 (May 30, 2007, for employers with
fewer than 20 employees). The start-up
date for engineering controls, if needed,
is May 31, 2010.
EnSafe's Robert Goodman, CIH, Senior Industrial
Hygienist, has been intimately involved
in this OSHA rule-making process, as well
as with related special projects for several
affected industries. If you would like more
information and/or support for this new
regulatory requirement, please contact him
at (513) 621-7233 or by email at
bgoodman@ensafe.com
Affected Industries
Electroplating
Welding
- General Industry
- Maritime Industry
- Construction Industry
- Government
Painting
- General Industry
- Maritime Industry
- Construction Industry
- Government
Chromate (Chromite Ore) production
Chromate Pigment Producers
Chromated Copper Arsenate Producers
Chromium Catalyst Producers
Paint and Coating Producers
Printing Ink Producers
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Plastic Colorant Producers and Users
Plating Mixture Producers
Wood Preserving
Solid Waste Incineration
Chromium Material Producers
Steel Mills
Iron and Steel Foundries
Chromium Dioxide Producers
Chromium Dye Producers
Chromium Sulfate Producers
Chemical Distributors
Textile Dyeing
Colored Glass Producers
Printing
Leather Tanning
Chromium Catalyst Users
Chromium Catalyst Users (Service)
Refractory Brick Producers
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Woodworking
- General Industry
- Maritime Industry
- Construction Industry
- Government
Incinerators (Government)
Oil and Gas Well Drilling
Portland Cement Producers
Superalloy Producers
Construction (Refractory Repair)
Construction (Hazardous Waste Work)
Hazardous Waste (government)
Construction (Industrial Rehabilitation)
Industrial Rehabilitation (Government)
Precast Concrete Products Producers
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