Chromium Standard Outrages Steelworkers Union

The United Steelworkers union on Tuesday expressed outrage at OSHA's decision to set the new standard for hexavalent chromium five times higher than the agency originally proposed, and 20 times higher than the level originally sought by the union. "OSHA's decision guarantees that many more workers will get lung cancer," said Michael Wright, the union's health and safety director. Workers are exposed to hexavalent chromium in chrome plating shops, welding on stainless steel, in the production of chromate chemicals and pigments, and in the manufacture and use of some cements. OSHA's own risk...