New OSHA standards for Hexavalent Chromium

May 2006

OSHA has issued a final ruling for the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) to hexavalent chromium to 5 micrograms per cubic meter and Action level of 2.5. This is a tenfold reduction of the limit. Stainless steel does not contain hexavalent chromium (Cr+6). However heat and dust generating operations can generate airborne Cr+6, such as but not limited to: welding of stainless steel or chromium coated material, plasma cutting of stainless steel, and grinding and polishing.

This will impact many organizations requiring them to perform engineering assessments, medical surveillance, and provide respiratory protection, protective clothing, change rooms, laundry services, and separate eating and drinking facilities. Many within the stainless steel industry feel that the limited misrepresented data unrelated to the stainless steel sector helps to push overly restrictive exposure limits on this highly recyclable "green" material that is critical to clear air, fresh water, and containment and treatment of hazardous wastes materials.

Many also feel that OSHA has drastically overestimated the risk and underestimated the amount of affected facilities and employees, and therefore drastically underestimated the costs of compliance. Both NAM and SSINA have appealed this decision on March 10th, 2006.

The current compliance dates are as follows:

• Employers with more than 20 employees – Nov. 27th 2007
• Employers with less than 20 employees – May 31st 2007
• Feasible engineering controls – May 31st 2010

More information on this topic is available at the Specialty Steel Industry of North America website.