OSHA is holding a web forum through Aug. 27 to collect input from stakeholders regarding “chemicals of concern” for which the agency should develop exposure reduction strategies. The forum allows stakeholders to identify harmful chemicals and explain why OSHA should focus on these chemicals in developing long- and short-term solutions for reducing workers’ exposure. Interested parties can complete a nomination form on the OSHA web site.

In the early 1970s, OSHA established approximately 400 permissible exposure limits (PELs) for hazardous chemicals. Since then, however, OSHA has developed more protective regulations for only 29 chemicals, while the majority of OSHA PELs have remained unchanged.

“Many of our permissible exposure limits are based on 1950s-era science that we now realize is inadequate to protect workers in 21st century workplaces,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels said in a press release. “We must assure the protection of workers currently exposed to well-recognized chemical hazards for which we have an inadequate PEL or no PEL at all.”

Here is a link to an AIHA sponsored IH course - if you are in the area or looking for a FIH course in the fall.

http://www.aiha.org/education/ce/roadcourses/Documents/India%20FIH%20Registration%20Form.pdf

EPA’s rule -14 yrs delayed- comes into force to protect children from leaded paint poisoning during home renovations


Today, April 22, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will put into force its long-overdue lead-safe workpractices rule, called the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule. Yay! This rule will go a long long way towards protecting homeowners, their families, and renovators from harmful exposure to lead-contaminated paint. (Lead was banned from house paint in 1978, so new homes are not at risk).

The LRRP Rule is a federal law requiring that by April 22, 2010, renovation firms must be certified in lead-safe work practices and individuals must have completed a one-day training course in lead-safe work practices; certification is valid for five years.

EPA finalized its LRRP rule in 2008 because of continued widespread childhood poisoning from old leaded paint during renovations and home repairs, but gave renovators another two years to get certified and in compliance.

Too bad this report did not come out before they starting shooting “Hot Tub Time Machine”. If it did, maybe some H & S professional could have gotten a consulting job on location during the shoot.
The New Mexico Occupational Health Surveillance Program, New Mexico Department of Health, is investigating Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections in spa workers that may have resulted from occupational exposures to the organism in water aerosols. MAC has been associated with “hot tub lung,” a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) which is a lung inflammation that acutely produces fever, cough, chills, and shortness of breath with repeated exposure. The chronic form of HP can result in permanent scarring (fibrosis) of the lung. A report of findings is scheduled to be posted on the state agency Website, http://nmhealth.org/eheb/occhealth.shtml.

This report won’t keep me from the occasional soak after a long day of skiing at the resort I go to every winter, but I may not stay in the tub as long. I wasn’t planning on going to see the movie, but now I might be able to expense it as part of my job – doing some research.

For all labs that currently or would like to be accredited to run lead, there will be some important information coming your way.

There will be an upcoming survey on CPSIA whole-product testing to determine whether our stakeholders have an interest in expanding AIHA-LAP, LLC activities. The two CPSIA methods in question for the survey are

CPSC-CH-E1002-08 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Total Lead (Pb) in Non-Metal Children’s Products

CPSC-CH-E1001-08 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Total Lead (Pb) in Children’s Metal Products (Including Children’s Metal Jewelry)

Currently, labs may add the CPSIA method for paint testing to the ELLAP scope under the Paint matrix, with the caveat that this will not be recognized by CPSC until AIHA-LAP, LLC has international recognition. When submitting the Addition of Method form, the method to be added for Lead in Paint is CPSC-CH-E1003-09 - Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Lead (Pb) in Paint and Other Similar Surface Coatings, with the scope of the accreditation expressly including testing to the requirements of 16 CFR part 1303.

Information may be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect101.html