Controversy Arises Over New 'Permissible Exposure Limit'
of Hexavalent Chromium Issued by OSHA
Washington, D.C., March 21, 2006 — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new standards to the existing standards that limit workplace exposure to hexavalent chromium. It has been determined by OSHA that the current level of hexavalent chromium that workers are exposed to puts workers at a significant health risk.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is concerned about the lowering of the permissible level because of the lack of data as to the potential economic impact the lower level will have on collision members. Collision shop employees use many refinishing products in their shops as well as sand, grind and weld vehicle parts. Each of these procedures presents the opportunity for hexavalent chromium to exist.
Hexavalent chromium is a metal shown to cause cancer in some workers exposed to it. Evidence demonstrates that workers exposed to hexavalent chromium are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer, asthma, skin damage and destruction of nasal epithelia. More than 500,000 Americans are exposed to the cancer-causing metal. These Americans include steel workers, welders, chrome platers, and paint and pigment manufacturers.
Currently workers associated with hexavalent chromium are permitted, by law, to be exposed to 1 milligram of the hexavalent chromium for every 10 cubic meters of air. The new limit will only allow workers to be exposed to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Although a significant drop in level of exposure, the level is still five times higher than that originally presented by OSHA in 2004, which pales in light of that proposed by worker safety activists who called for such low levels of exposure that saw the final regulation 20 times higher.
"ASA is concerned about the requirement of regulated areas where workers would be provided personal protective equipment, washing facilities and changes of clothes. Extensive medical monitoring of workers is also required," said Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative. "We are troubled by the lack of data as to worker exposure in collision shops. We will need to work closely with OSHA to determine specifically what shops will be obligated to provide."
OSHA has acknowledged that the new limit will still allow between 10 and 45 deaths from lung cancer for every 1,000 workers exposed to the harmful particles. These deaths will occur over a 45-year period. OSHA went on to defend its stance by also reporting that as many as 145 deaths caused by lung cancer will be prevented due to the new exposure standards.
The final regulation can be viewed at www.TakingTheHill.com.
The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.
ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.asashop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.
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