Website Mission: Provide suppliers with information and support on regulatory compliant and environmentally-preferred materials and processes.
Rule Summary
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has lowered the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for hexavalent chrome from 52 µg/m3 to 5 µg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
U.S. suppliers and processors may be affected if they perform any of the following operations:.
- Spray-coating of chromated primers
- Tankline operations
- Stripping and sanding of chromated parts
- Application of chromated sealants
- Application of chromated conversion coatings
- Welding of stainless steel or other chrome alloys
- Plant maintenance
Important Dates
(For OSHA states only. States with "State Plans" may have revised compliance dates.)
- Published in Federal Register
- February 28, 2006
- Standard goes into effect
- May 30, 2006
- Start-up date for all provisions except engineering controls
- November 26, 2006
- May 30, 2007 (for employers with fewer than 20 employees)
- Start-up date for engineering controls
- May 31, 2010
Non-Chrome Alternatives
(Boeing has approved non-chrome materials and processes as options within certain BMS and BAC specifications).
Information and Contacts
Supplier Environmental Website
Your Boeing Buyer can obtain additional information from spec custodians and technical experts. If applicable, your Boeing Procurement Quality Assurance (PQA) Field Rep also has access to these contacts. Contact the chemical manufacturer for pricing information and help identifying your local distributors.
Additional Resource Links
External sites are not endorsed by The Boeing Company
OSHA Links
- OSHA News Release
- Regulatory Text of Final Standard without preamble and summary
- Complete Text of Final Rule Including preamble PDF [11.2 MB]
- Minor Amendment to the Final Rule
- OSHA's Compliance Guide for Small Businesses [PDF]
- OSHA Compliance Assistance
- OSHA Compliance Directive: Inspection Procedures for the Chromium (VI) Standards [PDF]
Other Compliance Assistance Sites
- Compliance Assistance Centers
- National Metal Finishing Resource Center
- Paints and Coatings Resource Center
