OSHA has begun the process of revising its standards for occupational exposure to lead, a move which will affect some nonferrous foundries. To help metalcasters stay informed about these proposed changes to the standards, AFS will host a Members-Only Webinar at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 28.
The speaker, attorney Richard Smith, will provide an overview of OSHA’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) and how it could impact the operations of brass, bronze, and copper foundries, as well as timing for the proposal. Smith is a partner and co-chair of Wiley’s Litigation Group in Washington, D.C.
OSHA’s ANPRM published on June 28 stems from recent medical research findings that adverse health effects in adults can occur at lower blood lead levels than those required by the agency’s current standards. The agency is seeking input from interested stakeholders on more than 60 questions, including reducing the current blood lead level triggers in the medical removal protection and medical surveillance provisions of its current lead standards. OSHA also is asking for comments related to how current ancillary provisions in the standards could be modified to reduce workers’ blood lead levels. Another area OSHA is seeking input on is whether it should consider reducing its current permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m3 of lead over an eight-hour time-weighted average or its action level of 30 µg/m3.
Comments on the ANPRM are due Aug. 28, 2022. AFS has requested a comment extension given the comprehensive list of questions, and plans to submit comments.
Registration for this webinar, “OSHA Begins Process to Revise Its Standards for Occupational Exposure to Lead,” is free to members and $250 for non-members.