STERC OSHA HEXAVALENT CHROME PEL PAGE 

Introduction

On February 28, 2006, OSHA published a final rule for a hexavalent chromium permissible exposure limit (PEL) that applies to the metal finishing industry and other sectors. The new limit is 5.0 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) (as Cr VI) with an action level of 2.5 µg/m³ (as Cr VI). It applies to all forms of hexavalent chromium, including chromic acid and chromates, lead chromate, and zinc chromate. The new PEL is significantly lower than the level under which industry has been operating: 52 µg/m³ (as Cr VI).

These provisions require employers to make medical surveillance available for all employees who are or may be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level (2.5 µg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average) for 30 or more days per year. Medical examinations required under the Chromium (VI) standard must include a physical examination of both the employee's skin and the employee's nostrils and respiratory tract (for more information, see: OSHA determination).

As part of the new rule, OSHA published other ancillary provisions for employee protection such as preferred methods for controlling exposure, respiratory protection, protective work clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, medical surveillance, hazard communication, and recordkeeping.

Employer obligations to comply with requirements of the final rule are as follows:

*Under a settlement agreement with OSHA, companies that "opt-in" by November 27, 2006, would not have to put employees exposed over the PEL in respirators in exchange for accelerated implementation of engineering controls (12/31/08).

A permissible exposure limit (PEL) is an occupational exposure limit established by OSHAs regulatory authority. It may be a time-weighted average (TWA) limit or a maximum concentration exposure limit (i.e., ceiling). About 600 of the most common chemicals have PELs; including chromium.

OSHA is operated under a court-ordered deadline. Here is a summary of what transpired:

• In 1993, Public Citizens Health Research Group (HRG) and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW, now PACE) petitioned OSHA to lower the PEL to 0.5 µg/m³.
• OSHA denied the petition, but determined that exposures at the permitted levels may result in an excess risk of cancer.
• OSHA announced that it would publish a rule on hexavalent chromium no later than March 1995, but failed to do so.
• In 1997, after OSHAs continued inaction on the rulemaking, HRG and OCAW sued to force OSHA to take action. Despite its statement that the existing standard was inadequate to protect worker health, OSHA again failed to complete the rulemaking, citing numerous reasons, including competing agency priorities and uncertainty in the data.
• The Court dismissed Public Citizens request for action, concluding that the facts did not demonstrate that OSHAs actions had been unreasonable. OSHA was given a new deadline of September 1999, which it again failed to meet.
• In February 2002, Public Citizen again sued OSHA to force action on the matter.
• In December 2002, the Court published a scathing opinion critical of OSHAs delay and ordered mediation between the parties to assist the Court in setting a reasonable and workable schedule for the hexavalent chromium rulemaking.
• On April 2, 2003, with the parties unable to agree on a rulemaking schedule, the Court adopted the mediators recommendation and directed OSHA to publish a proposed hexavalent chromium rule no later than October 4, 2004 and a final standard no later than January 18, 2006. The Court subsequently granted OSHA an extension to February 28, 2006 for publication of the final rule.

Most sources agree that the PEL for hexavalent chromium should be lower; however, there is disagreement on how low is necessary.

The major illnesses associated with hexavalent chromium are dermatoses and lung cancer. The current OSHA PEL for these compounds was adopted from a 1943 ANSI Standard. The justification for the ANSI Standard is based on 1924 and 1928 reports on the non-malignant effects (dermatitis and skin ulceration and perforations of the nasal septum) of chromium compounds. The current PEL does not take into account cancer risks of exposure to hexavalent chromium. Evaluations by the California Department of Health Services, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry indicate that the risk of lung cancer to exposed workers is significant.

In 1993, Public Citizens Health Research Group (HRG) and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW, now PACE) petitioned OSHA to lower the PEL to 0.5 µg/m³. A report published by an industry group contractor suggested, among other alternatives, that OSHA consider a Cr⁺⁶ PEL of 44 µg/m³ (time-weighted average).

• NIOSH Issues Chromium Assessment and New Limit. On January 24, 2013, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a document entitled Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium in which NIOSH reviews the critical health effects studies of hexavalent chromium compounds to update its assessment of the potential health effects of occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds and its recommendations to prevent and control these workplace exposures. The document provides a new Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 0.20 µg/m3 for workplaces.
• Final Rule, Federal Register: November 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 39)
• Proposed Rule, Federal Register: October 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 191)
• OSHA Safety and Health Topics: Hexavalent Chromium