Why does OSHA lag behind in enviornmental health standards.?!
Question: Why does OSHA lag behind in enviornmental health standards!.!?
The permitted levels of toxic substances in the workplace defined by OSHA hasn't changed in years, in spite of new findings!. Why doesn't OSHA use newer Threshold Limit Values (TLV) for determining permissible levels of hazardous substances!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The leaders in progress are ACGIH and AIHA!. These organizations research and review research in these areas!. On a regular basis, they change standards (the ACGIH 2008 list just came out)!. These groups can do it by committee because they are determining GUIDELINES!. OSHA has to implement regulations which is a much bigger hurdle than a committee of scientists agreeing on new numbers!. OSHA also has to not only regulate the numbers, but they also have to write regulations on how to meet the new limits including proving the economic impact!. Bottom line, they could work faster, but with Congress, lobbyists, unions, and everybody else involved, it takes time!. We had the dang helium tax for a hundred years and everyone agreed that was stupid, but Congress did nothing!. These exposure limits are much more of a place for honest disagreement!.
Even with all that, the numbers of the different organizations are still >90% the same or near the same (someone from ACGIH may confirm this)!. Even ACGIH has been the subject of a lawsuit (see reference) where they had been free to print guidelines in the past!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Even with all that, the numbers of the different organizations are still >90% the same or near the same (someone from ACGIH may confirm this)!. Even ACGIH has been the subject of a lawsuit (see reference) where they had been free to print guidelines in the past!.Www@Answer-Health@Com