The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a new respirator web page containing information that should be regarded as a reliable source to identify NIOSH-approved respirators; how to obtain products; and how to use them. The page will be dynamic; information will be added as it becomes available.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/RespSource.html

On Jan. 2, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final iron and steel foundry area source rule in the Federal Register.  EPA issued the standard based on generally available control technology (GACT) for the control of the following urban hazardous air pollutants (HAPs):  chromium, lead, manganese and nickel.  The final rule sets emission limits for large area source facilities and requires them to comply with pollution prevention management practices and notification and record keeping requirements. 

Mercury Switch Removal Scrap Management Plan

All iron and steel facilities (both large and small) that are subject to the final area source rule must comply with pollution prevention management practices, notification requirements and record keeping provisions. On Jan. 4, 2010, metalcasting facilities must have a management plan to address the mercury switch removal requirement.

Pursuant to this requirement, foundries may purchase scrap from motor vehicles only from scrap providers participating in an EPA-approved program for mercury removal or operate a site-specific mercury switch removal program at the foundry.  Most foundries will elect to purchase scrap from providers with approved mercury switch programs.  In the final rule, EPA defined “motor vehicle scrap” for purpose of this provision to include only motor vehicle scrap that is shredded.  Other types of scrap from motor vehicles that would not contain mercury such as brake rotor or pump casings would not be subject to this limitation to address mercury switch removal. 

In addition, foundries must submit notification of compliance with the mercury switch scrap management plan requirement by February 3, 2010.  This notification should be sent to the appropriate EPA regional office.

Semi-Annual Compliance Report

The final rule for iron and steel foundry area sources includes a comprehensive set of specific regulatory requirements.  For example, foundries must submit the semi-annual compliance report on Jan. 30, 2010.  Facilities also should review the entire regulatory text to ensure compliance with all of the applicable requirements. 

Additional information on the final iron and steel foundry area source rule is available on the AFS website at www.afsinc.org.  If you have any questions regarding the final rule, contact Christian Richter or Jeff Hannapel at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 

In April, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new guidance document, Assigned Protection Factors (APF), which provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for employees exposed to contaminants in the air. OSHA revised its existing respiratory protection standard in 2006 to add APFs and Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) provisions.

APFs indicate the level of respiratory protection a respirator or class of respirators is able to provide to workers. The higher the APF (5 to 10,000), the greater the level of protection provided to the user. The MUC represents the limit at which the class of respirator is expected to provide protection. Whenever a hazard’s exposure level exceeds the MUC, employers should select a respirator with a higher APF.

The APF and MUC are mandatory respirator selection requirements that can only be used after respirators are properly selected and are used in compliance with the entire standard. The respiratory protection standard requires fit testing, medical evaluations, specific training and proper respirator use. To read the new OSHA document, click here.

For more information, contact Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, at 202/842-4864 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The debate over card check legislation heats up this week, with the reintroduction of the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 1409 / S. 560) by U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.) and U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). The legislation that could overturn nearly 70 years of federally supervised secret ballot representation in union elections is organized labor’s number one issue and President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.

AFS supports the basic rights of all employees to decide freely whether or not to join a union, however, we strongly believe that a federally-supervised, private ballot election is the best way for employees to make this decision. Additionally, we believe that the mandatory binding arbitration included under EFCA would impose unwanted employment conditions on both employees and employers.

For more information on the Employee Free Choice Act, click here for the National Association of Manufacturers toolkit.

To convey your opposition to your elected officials about this legislation, AFS is calling its members to take action in the form of letter submission. To submit these letters, follow these steps:

• create a letter utilizing the AFS sample letters (which can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate link below), inserting your letterhead and/or company logo. If you have a non-union shop, include information on the excellent health benefits, wages and leave time that you already offer your employees
• fax or email the revised letters to your U.S. Congressmen. To obtain email and fax addresses, visit www.congress.org or email Caroline Mojonnier, AFS Washington office, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you have a staff contact in the member office, copy that person on the letter.
  

For more information, contact Alicia Oman, AFS Washington Office, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202/842-4864 .

AFS Employee Free Choice Act  Sample Letter (U.S. Senate)
AFS Employee Free Choice Sample Letter (U.S. House of Representatives)