NIOSH Comments to DOL on OSHA Request for Comments: Health and Safety Standards; Occupational Exposures to Toxic Substances in Laboratories by R. A. Lemen, October 1986

摘要

The testimony contains comments from NIOSH concerning the OSHA proposed rule regarding the safety of laboratory workers. Several aspects are presented which NIOSH believes detract from the overall goal of the standard. It is important to very clearly state in the final standard that compliance with the currently proposed standard does not alleviate compliance with more specific standards promulgated by OSHA such as those dealing with specific chemicals compounds. NIOSH recommends that employers be made responsible for providing the reference material concerning the hazards and safe handling of toxic substances to which workers are exposed, not just informing them of the existence of such informational material. NIOSH urges that medical examinations be provided to all laboratory workers on a routine basis, that a monitoring plan for these workers be designed, that NIOSH REL's be referenced as part of the exposure evaluation criteria, that a better explanation of who is included or excluded from coverage under this proposal be provided by OSHA, that a more definitive explanation of the term laboratory be made, and that adequate time be allocated to the chemical hygiene officer to conduct the Chemical Hygiene Plan of the standard.