Document VJ837ZebVB0j6bJQywrbaz7w4

. CLAIBORNE IRBY, M. D. EXO EH-1 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE BULLETIN N0.116 1981 April 01 OSHA REGULATIONS As you now know, business is no longer "as usual" in Washington, with the advent of the Reagan administration. A new and refreshing direction is developing in regard to realistic regulation in the health and safety area. A move toward performance-oriented standards--with a common sense approach involving the cooperation of "both" labor and Tnanapamant--appears as one of the administration's primary objectives. Also, more flexibility and authority is being shifted toward state programs, with much less federal involvement. Already, significant changes have taken place in the regula tory area, as briefly outlined below: .W The OSHA Cancer policy, which would have had tremendous impact on our reduction plants, has been modified, and other alternatives to the policy are being considered. It is anticipated that the policy upon issuance in its final form will be less stringent. The proposed Hazards Identification and Labeling standard, which would have cost industry millions to comply with, in addition to causing a recordkeeping nightmare, has been withdrawn in its entirety. The proposed, more stringent, Bearing Conservation amendment to the OSHA Noise standard is being re-evaluated, as are those standards regulating exposure to cotton dust, lead, and access to employee exposure and medical records, and alternative ap proaches are being considered. As further information is developed with regard to OSHA regulations, we will continue to keep you informed. As always, Reynolds' management considers the health of our employees to be of paramount importance. Programs which have been implemented to en sure worker health, such as asbestos removal throughout the company, respitory protection in the reduction plants, hearing protection, and our present medical surveillance programs, will remain unchanged. The Medical Department will continue to implement and upgrade health protection programs, as needed. R-100-63 HMC/m Homer M. Cole Manager Environmental & Industrial Hygiene TX TINER RMC0048003 0 Jr*- . '- r-'. v Vf -J, ~ Ss&jMk * ?&'. V' , .*'-* TX TINER RMC0048004