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Chromium Rule Excludes Cement
By Richard Korman
As the U.S. Labor Dept. opened hearings Feb. 1 in Washington, D.C., on its proposed new rule on worker exposure to hexavalent chromium, a toxic metal, representatives of labor unions expressed unhappiness that the draft rule fails to include portland cement work.

Labor representatives believe the cement danger is significant and cited supporting evidence. Of special concern are thousands of workers who develop a skin disorder, contact dermatitis, from touching wet cement. Workers also are exposed to hexavalent chromium when welding chrome plated steel or chromated painted surfaces.

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Union members of the Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health last year proposed having portland cement included in the standard. They even believed they had reached a consensus with industry representatives over how to limit the hazard to workers.

But the new standard must be completed soon to comply with a court order, so the Labor Dept. "did what is required by the court and nothing else," says Scott P. Schneider, health director of a laborers’ union safety fund.

While the hexavalent chromium in cement may cause skin irritations, concentrations are so low that dangerous levels of airborne particles can’t be reached without violating standards for dust in general, says the proposed rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Portland Cement Association believes OSHA took the right course on the construction standard. "We also feel cement should be exempt from the general industry standard," says Tom Carter, PCA’s director of environment, health and safety.


  
 
Hazard?
Hexavalent Chromium and Cement

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