Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Hexavalent …

1 Small Entity Compliance Guide forthe Hexavalent Chromium 3320-10N 2006 Employers are responsible for providing a safe andhealthful workplace for their employees. OSHA srole is to assure the safety and health of America semployees by setting and enforcing standards; pro-viding training, outreach and education; establishingpartnerships; and encouraging continual improve-ment in workplace safety and health. This handbook provides a general overview of a par-ticular topic related to OSHA standards. It does notalter or determine Compliance responsibilities inOSHA standards or the Occupational Safety andHealth Act of 1970.

2 Because interpretations and en-forcement policy may change over time, you shouldconsult current OSHA administrative interpretationsand decisions by the Occupational Safety and HealthReview Commission and the Courts for additionalguidance on OSHA Compliance publication is in the public domain and may bereproduced, fully or partially, without credit is requested but not information is available to sensory impairedindividuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) Entity Compliance Guidefor theHexavalent Chromium StandardsOccupational Safety and Health Department of LaborOSHA 3320-10N 2006 Introduction3 Scope4 Definitions5 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)6 Exposure Determination7 Regulated Areas9 Methods of Compliance9 Respiratory Protection11 Protective Work Clothing and Equipment11 Hygiene Areas and Practices13 Housekeeping14 Medical Surveillance15 Communication of Cr(VI) Hazards to Employees16 Recordkeeping17 Dates18 OSHA Assistance19 Appendix I.

3 OSHA Cr(VI) Standards22 Appendix II: Industry Operations or Processes Associated with Occupational Exposure to Cr(VI)40 Appendix III: A. OSHA Area Offices47B. OSHA Regional Offices52C. States with Approved OccupationalSafety and Health Plans 53D. OSHA Consultation Project Directory552 Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationCover photo: An employee welds a stainless steelflange using a tungsten inert gas (TIG) weldingprocess (courtesy Bath Iron Works).ContentsThis Guide is intended to help Small businesses com-ply with the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration s (OSHA) Hexavalent Chromium(Cr(VI)) standards.

4 Employees exposed to Cr(VI) are atincreased risk of developing serious adverse healtheffects including lung cancer, asthma and damage tothe nasal passages and skin. This Guide describes thesteps that employers are required to take to protectemployees from the hazards associated with exposureto Cr(VI).This document provides guidance only, and doesnot alter or determine Compliance responsibilities,which are set forth in OSHA standards and theOccupational Safety and Health Act. This Guide doesnot replace the official Hexavalent Chromium stan-dards, which are contained in Appendix I of this docu-ment.

5 The employer must refer to the appropriatestandard to ensure that they are in , because interpretations and enforcementpolicy may change over time, for additional guidanceon OSHA Compliance requirements the reader shouldconsult current administrative interpretations anddecisions by the Occupational Safety and HealthReview Commission and the 24 states and two territories, OSHA standardsare enforced by the state agency responsible for theOSHA-approved State Plan. These states and territo-ries are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan,Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, NewYork, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands,Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

6 Connecticut,New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands operateOSHA-approved State Plans limited in scope to stateand local government employees. State Plans mustadopt and enforce standards that are either identicalto or at least as effective as the federal must also extend the coverage of their standardsto state and local government employees. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEThe Guide is divided into sections that correspond tothe major provisions of the Cr(VI) standards. Each sec-tion follows the same organization as the correspond-ing paragraph of the standards, providing moredetail than the standards to help employers betterunderstand the requirements.

7 For example, the Scopesection explains which employers are covered by thestandards and describes the exceptions to coverage ofthe standards. The employer may consult a sectionthat is of particular interest, or may proceed throughthe sections in sequence to gain a better understand-ing of the standards in their entirety. A section describ-ing additional OSHA resources available to assistemployers is also Cr(VI) standards for general industry (29 ), shipyards (29 CFR ), and con-struction (29 CFR ) are included in AppendixI. Appendix II presents information on industry opera-tions and processes associated with exposure toCr(VI) to assist employers in identifying Cr(VI) expo-sures in their workplaces.

8 Appendix III contains list-ings of OSHA Area and Regional offices; the address-es and phone numbers of state agencies that adminis-ter OSHA-approved State Plans; and the addressesand phone numbers of OSHA Consultation TO GO FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCEFor additional assistance in complying with the Cr(VI)standards, contact the nearest OSHA Area Office. Ifyou are unable to contact the OSHA Area Office, youcan contact the appropriate OSHA Regional Officefor information or assistance. If you are located in astate that operates an OSHA-approved State Plan, youmay contact the responsible state agency for informa-tion and assistance.

9 See Appendix III for the address-es and phone numbers of these OSHA Consultation Service is another impor-tant resource for additional assistance. The service islargely funded by OSHA and is delivered by stategovernments using well-trained professional intended for smaller businesses, the consul-tation program is free of charge to employers and iscompletely separate from the OSHA inspection consultation services do not issue citations orpropose penalties. Additional information on theOSHA Consultation Service, as well as other sourcesof help from OSHA, can be found in the OSHA assis-tance section of the Entity Compliance Guide FOR THE Hexavalent CHROMIUM STANDARDS3 ScopeThe standards apply to all occupational exposures toCr(VI), with only limited exceptions.

10 OSHA has separatestandards for Cr(VI) exposures in general industry, ship-yards, and construction. Most of the requirements arethe same for all sectors. Where there are differences,they will be explained in this (VI) is present in many different compounds thathave a variety of industrial applications. Examples ofmajor industrial uses of Cr(VI) compounds include: chro-mate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics; chro-mates added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers,and other surface coatings; and chromic acid electroplat-ed onto metal parts to provide a decorative or protectivecoating.