|
 
Aerosol Exposure Levels
| If aerosol concentrations are measured as part of the shop assessment, the following
information from governmental and consensus organizations may be useful in interpreting
your results. |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
| The current regulatory limits imposed by OSHA only apply to mineral oil mist or to
generic aerosol exposures where the particular contaminant is uncharacterized: |
 | Mineral Oil Mist5.0 mg/m3 (Straight and Soluble Oils) |
|
| Total Particulate Matter15.0 mg/m3 |
|
| Respirable Particulate Matter5.0 mg/m3 |
|
| OSHA did identify metalworking/machining fluid as an important issue in their 1995
Priority Planning Process. In their analysis metalworking/machining fluid was one of
eighteen areas that OSHA felt required some additional scrutiny by them and one of five
that should receive immediate considerations for rulemaking. In 1997 OSHA formed a
Standards Advisory Committee to examine the need for regulation and to make a
recommendation for a standard if warranted by their study of the scientific information.
The committee will report their findings to OSHA in 1999, with possible regulatory action
by OSHA in 2000+ |
Regulation of MRF in foreign countries:
| Australia (under
review) |
5.0 mg/m3 |
| STEL15 10.0 mg/m3 |
| *** |
*** |
| Ontario, Canada |
5.0 mg/m3 |
| * |
* |
| Germany |
Compound Dependent
|
| * |
* |
| Sweden |
1.0 mg/m3 |
| STEL15
3.0 mg/m3 |
| * |
* |
| United Kingdom |
5.0 mg/m3 |
| STEL10 10.0 mg/ |
Other organizations:
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH TLVs®)
| National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued A
Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Metalworking Fluids. In
their document they recommend the following: |
|
Metal removal fluid Aerosol Exposures 10hr/day, 40 hr week
| Thoracic Particulate Mass 0.4 mg/m3
or "Total" Particulate Mass 0.5 mg/m3 |
| Health and Safety Program for exposed workers
|
| A few exposure values have been established by collective bargaining agreements with
labor unions. Machine tool specifications can also be used to help provide guidance on
acceptable exposure values with new machines. Voluntary consensus organizations have also
addressed many issues related to the management of metal removal fluids. |
| ASTM Committee E-34.50, Health and Safety Standards for Metalworking Fluids, is
involved in the development of standard occupational health and safety test methods,
practices, guides, and terminology related to the health and safety of metalworking
fluids. ANSI B11 Ventilation Subcommittee is involved in mist control considerations for
design, installation, and use of machine tools using metalworking fluids |
| Some of the documents prepared by ASTM E-34.50, Health and Safety
Standards for Metalworking Fluids are: |
| E 1302 Standard Guide for Acute Animal Toxicity Testing of Water-Miscible Metalworking
Fluid |
|
| E 1497 Standard Practice for Safe-Use of Water Miscible Metalworking Fluids |
|
| E 1687 Standard Test Method for Determining Carcinogenic Potential of Virgin Base Oils
in Metalworking Fluids |
|
| PS 42 Provisional Standard Test Method for Metal Removal Fluid Aerosols in Workplace
Atmospheres |
|
|
| These regulations and guidelines provide a range of concentrations deemed acceptable
for this complex workplace aerosol. While no single reference value is correct for all
types of shops and conditions, these values do provide some guidance for interpretation of
exposure results. An individual shop may wish to adopt an aerosol exposure value as an
engineering target, but ultimately, the lack of illnesses and injuries in the workplace
will determine the adequacy of the aerosol controls and the overall management program in
a particular shop. |
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|
Contact Chris Roman, 