CFR 174 - Hexavalent Chromium

Following a court mandate to promulgate a final rule for Hexavalent Chromium (VI), federal OSHA published this new final rule on February 28, 2006 (Federal Register). This final rule sets an action level of 2.5 ug/m3 as an 8 hour time-weighted average and a permissible exposure level of 5 ug/m3 as an 8 hour time-weighted average. Additionally, the standard has requirements for initial and periodic monitoring, medical surveillance, personal protective equipment and respiratory protection, engineering and work practice controls and employee information and training.

Changes were also made to the 29 CFR 1910.1000, Z-1 and Z-2 tables, to the 29 CFR 1915.1000, Z table, and to Appendix A of 29 CFR 1926.55 to reference the new Hexavalent Chromium standard for each part.

The N.C. Commissioner of Labor adopted this final rule verbatim with an effective date of May 30, 2006 with additional start-up dates noted in 1910.1026(n), 1915.1026(l) and 1926.1126(l).