OSHA has amended the Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] standard. As originally written, the Cr(VI) standard required employers to notify employees of any exposures in excess of the applicable permissible exposure limit (PEL).
OSHA is revising the employee notification requirements under the Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] regulation requiring employers to notify employees of the results of all exposure determinations, not just those that exceed PEL. The action comes in the form of a Direct Final Rule, which will be effective June 15, 2010.
Also, OSHA recently released CPL 02-02-076, the compliance directive for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium.
Under the NEP:
- Each region is required to conduct at least five inspections each year. Inspections will generally focus on industries where overexposures to hexavalent chromium are known to occur, for example, electroplating and foundries.
- Data from the EPA can be used to identify facilities where hexavalent chromium overexposures are unlikely.
- Employers participating in cooperative programs may be exempt from programmed inspections.
- Inspections under this NEP are to be conducted by an Industrial Hygiene Compliance Officer (IH or Health CSHO) who has received training.
- Area Offices are required to conduct follow-up inspections in certain cases, including where overexposures to hexavalent chromium or the other toxic substances targeted by this NEP are cited.
How KOL can help
KellerOnline offers you tools and information you can use to comply with the new regulation.
KOL's Topic Index is a great place to start. The Hexavalent Chromium topic provides you with links to the regulations, to News & Alerts to keep you up to date with changes affecting Hexavalent Chromium, and to OSHA's Letters of Interpretation on the subject.
But that's not all. The topic also links you to the Hexavalent Chromium NEP so you can read firsthand what OSHA is thinking, training tools, and written plan templates on Hexavalent Chromium.
For more information, visit the J.J. Keller & Associates Web site at www.jjkeller.com.
