December 18, 2002—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it plans to go forward with proposed rulemaking on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium. Exposures to the metal have been associated with lung cancer, other respiratory problems, and dermatoses.
OSHA published a request for information in the Federal Register on August 22 asking for public comments relating to hexavalent chromium, most commonly used as a structural and anti-corrosive element in the production of stainless steel, iron, and steel, and in electroplating, welding, and painting.
OSHA’s request for information included: health effects; risk assessment; methods of analyzing exposure levels; investigations into occupational exposures, control measures, and technological and economic impact feasibility; use of personal protective equipment and respirators; current employee training and medical screening programs; and environmental and small business impacts.
The agency received 26 comments, including more than 100 documents and attachments, in response to the request for information. OSHA said the agency will utilize the information contained in the comments during the rulemaking process.
OSHA’s current general industry standard sets a permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium compounds at 100 micrograms per cubic meter as a ceiling concentration; the standard for construction is 100 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
For more information, contact OSHA.
