Potential workplace blood monitoring changes worry metal manufacturers

Based on some aggressive regulation action in a couple of West Coast states, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering new blood monitoring levels for lead exposure. jarun011/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Fears are rising from multiple metalworking sectors about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s consideration of new blood monitoring levels for lead exposure that would affect a substantial number of U.S. manufacturers who use scrap metal as a production input.

The current OSHA standard is permissible exposure limit (PEL) airborne concentration of 50 µg of lead per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m³) averaged over an eight-hour period. OSHA’s blood lead level (BLL) for medical removal is 60 µg per deciliter (60 µg/dL) or more for general industry. The return-to-work BLL is less than 40 µg/dL.

OSHA appears to be considering a reduction of the PEL to levels now being considered by the states of California and Washington. California’s most recent discussion draft includes a medical removal level when 30 μg/dL is documented after a single test result, when the last two monthly blood lead tests are 20 μg/dL or more, or when the average of the results of all blood lead tests conducted in the last six months is at or above 20 μg/dL. The discussion draft also includes a reduction in the PEL from 50 μg/m³ to 10 μg/m³.

Those kinds of potentially draconian reductions to the OSHA federal standard now being enforced in all states have rung alarm bells from industry groups such as the American Foundry Society (AFS).

“The percent or amount of lead present as a contaminant in incoming materials from scrap metal … is not predictable,” said Greg Kramer, technical director, AFS. “Likewise, the amount of lead in surface dust can be highly variable and would also trigger extensive, costly, and frequent testing. It will likely require changes to the plant’s airflow and ventilation, and enhanced particulate air filtration systems. These operational changes will require engineering work, regulatory reviews and permitting, procurement of equipment and materials, system construction/modification, and performance testing before compliance can be established.”

Anthony Darkangelo, CEO, FCA International, which represents metal finishers, said, “Relying on state rulemaking is allowing the tale to wag the proverbial dog. What is more, given the recent changes by California, Washington, and Michigan, there is a dearth of scientific evidence showing that their methods have resulted in greater employee health. Rather than focusing on worker BLL—which is elevated only after a lead exposure—FCA believes that worker safety would be better advanced through more robust enforcement of existing lead standards.”

Steel Tariffs Stay—for the Most Part

Here’s some bad news for manufacturers using hot-rolled steel: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) decided to maintain the existing countervailing duty order on imports of hot-rolled steel from South Korea and the antidumping duty orders on imports of hot-rolled steel from Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and the U.K. Those decisions were based on a five-year review of the tariffs and found that U.S. steel manufacturers would be hurt if the tariffs were removed.

The silver lining for metal consumers is that the USITC did agree to remove the existing antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on imports of hot-rolled steel from Brazil.