2010 OSHA’s Regulatory Priorities
The 2010 hazardous chemicals and substances play top roles in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) list of regulatory priorities indicates upcoming OSHA actions, primarily rule making.
- Crystalline silica, the inhalation of substance dust can cause silicosis, lung disease, and lung cancer. Research estimated that there are about 7,000 new cases of chronic silicosis every year. OSHA is planning to publish a notice of proposed regulations in July 2010—updating existing permissible exposure limit (PEL) for crystalline silica.
- Combustible dust, such as wood, coal, rubber, plastics, spice, starch, flour, feed, grain, fertilizer, tobacco and more form of combustible dust. The feral agency published an advance memo of proposed rulemaking in October 2009.
- Hazard communication standard— the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The federal safety agency is revising its hazard communication standard to make it tough with the GHS which include more specific requirements for hazard classification and standard label components that will provide consistent details and definitions for hazardous substance and approach to conveying details on MSDSs.
- Beryllium. Can cause a chronic beryllium disease, it occurs when people inhale beryllium dust or fumes and can take from a few months to 30 years to develop. OSHA is enhancing regulations that would update the PEL.
- Diacetyl. Workers exposure to diacetyl causes obstructive airway problems, such as disabling and sometimes chronic lung disease called popcorn lung or bronchiolitis obliterans in medical term. OSHA’s developing a PEL rule to protect workers from exposure to diacetyl.
