Dear Oskar Representatives:

After years of legal battle from United Steelworkers and Public Citizens to push OSHA to reform their rules and regulations in regards to Hexavalent Chromium, OSHA’s new regulations finally went into place. OSHA’s new standard for Hexavalent Chromium (CrVi) states that an employer “shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium is excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.” (www.osha.gov)

Why the new regulation?
With such a dramatic rise in lung cancer deaths and respiratory diseases among workers who are exposed to hexavalent chromium, concerned organizations and OSHA began to reevaluate their past studies. The new research validates that hexavalent chromium is more dangerous than previously thought. OSHA states that “fine and ultrafine particles…are known to be associated with greater toxicity than larger particles. The fine/ultrafine particles penetrate into the alveolar region of the lung…and can lead to pulmonary inflammation and non-neoplastic respiratory disease.” (www.atsdr.cdc.gov)

These new regulations become in effect on the following dates:
-Employer with more than 20 employees – November 27, 2006
-Employers with less than 20 employers – May 20, 2007

This might not be the end of it. The United Steelworkers and Public Citizens were pushing for stricter regulations. Both organizations state that 5 micrograms of chromium per cubic meter of air is still dangerous, the levels should be closer to .25 micrograms per cubic meter. “It is estimated that 10 to 45 lung cancer deaths will occur per 1,000 workers over a lifetime at the 5 microgram per cubic meter level…standard of 0.25 micrograms per cubic meter only 0.53 – 2.3 deaths would occur per 1,000…” (www.ishn.com)

Who is exposed to Hexavalent Chromium?
Workers that handle pigments containing dry chromate, spray paints and coatings containing chromate, operate chrome plating baths, and weld or cut metal containing chromium (stainless steel).

What is the Solution? OSKAR AIR PRODUCTS

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me anytime.

Regards,

Charles Sithes
Product Manager