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Refractory
Ceramic Fibers Coalition and |
Washington, DC, February 11, 2002 -- The
Refractory Ceramic Fibers Coalition (RCFC), its member companies1 and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today introduced a voluntary worker
protection program entitled PSP 2002. This
highly acclaimed product stewardship program is a comprehensive, multi-faceted risk
management program designed to control and reduce workplace exposures to refractory
ceramic fiber (RCF).
PSP
2002 has been developed for use wherever RCF is manufactured, fabricated, installed or
removed as well as other occupational settings
where workers may be exposed to RCF. RCFC
will report annual progress against this voluntary program to OSHA. Although there are no reporting provisions for
non-member companies, all users of RCF will be encouraged to adopt the key elements of PSP
2002. The PSP 2002 program begins
immediately. The Assistant Secretary of Labor
for OSHA stated, “We are particularly impressed that elements of the Program are
addressed to both the manufacturers and the users of RCF materials, appropriate to their
ability to efficiently reduce worker risks.” Elements
of PSP 2002 include a recommended exposure guideline of 0.5 f/cc (8 hr-TWA), exposure
reduction measures, work practice development, worker training, respirator use
recommendations, product research, medical surveillance and exposure monitoring.
RCFC
and its member companies are confident that PSP 2002 addresses the key components of
responsible risk management for RCF. This
voluntary program continues many of the initiatives embraced by the industry during the
past ten years. RCFC and its members
recognize that it is prudent to adopt RCF exposure controls where feasible and necessary,
and that compliance with PSP 2002 will minimize any potential risk associated with
workplace exposure to RCF. Further, the
industry believes PSP 2002 is an appropriate approach for encouraging continued reduction
of RCF workplace exposures at both manufacturing and end user facilities.
1 The members of RCFC are Thermal Ceramics Inc. and Unifrax Corporation.
PSP 2002 DOCUMENTATION
Should you have any questions or comments about PSP 2002, please E-mail them to Dr. Dean E. Venturin, RCFC President, at rcfc@buffnet.net.