OSHA’s Regulation to Hexavalent Chromium: CR (VI)
-OSHA’s reduced the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Hexavalent Chromium from 52 PEL to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
- Why the decision to lower Cr(VI)? Bases on years of research and studies OSHA concluded that employees exposed to CR(VI) encounter an increased risk of significant health risks. These risks include: lung cancer, asthma, nasal ulcerations, skin ulcerations, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Action level is 2.5, if above this companies must take corrective actions.
-Effective date was May 30, 2006
- Most common operations that generate Hexavalent Chromium:
-Welding of Stainless Steel
-Welding of Chromium
-Cutting or burning Stainless Steel or coated material
- Plasma cutting of Stainless Steel
- Forging
- Heat treatment
- Grinding or Polishing
-What to do? The best possible solution is to provide your workers with fume filtration that will filter out the harmful CR(VI) to make it safe for employees throughout the workplace breathe in the air. Because OSHA is testing worker’s exposure limit general ventilation is not viable because the fumes are still entering the worker’s breathing zone. You must extract the fumes from the source and filter the air with a HEPA filter.
- Monitoring and providing your employees with proper air filtration is essential in meeting or exceeding OSHA’s new CR(VI) standards and protecting the health and welling being of your employees.
- For more information about Hexavalent Chromium or Oskar’s Products please contact an Oskar Air Products Representative