Guilty until proven innocent Faced with a lack of responsible guidance and scientific uncertainty for most chemicals, employers have few options but to apply the precautionary principle for all chemicals that lack established exposure limits within the workplace. To do nothing shows disregard for employees or make the erroneous assumption that the chemical is safe at any exposure amount. When trying to determine guilt or innocence for chemicals, employers may make a big mistake by relying too much on information supplied, or not supplied, in a material safety data sheet from the chemical manufacturer or supplier. Besides being error prone and data weak, almost every MSDS now includes a disclaimer that places the burden of liability of its use back onto the user. Many methods can be followed to evaluate chemicals and determine safe exposure limits.
Every method involves some subjectivity.
It's best when your evaluation discovers a qualified third-party that establishes a safe exposure limit for the chemical in question. Employers then may decide how far below the limit to keep exposures in their own workplaces. The whole issue seems to be about legal posturing to reduce liability. We'll take it from there. Copyright 2001 by Business News Publishing Co.