Overview

The metalworking industries in the United States and throughout the world perform their functions and manufacturing practices under a variety of conditions, some of which are hazardous and may pose health problems to metalworkers. In order to protect the people involved in all classes of industrial manufacturing processes and situations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created by the United States government.

OSHA is responsible for generating and administering the rules and regulations that were designed to protect American workers from industrial and manufacturing practices and materials that have proven to be safety and health hazards. For example, for many years, workers handled and processed asbestos without the slightest idea or knowledge that this material was dangerous to their health and in many instances caused fatal health problems. Likewise, processes for mercury and cadmium metals can pose serious health and environmental problems, as can the indiscriminate handling and disposal of toxic waste products.

In order to help protect the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established. This agency generates and administers the rules and regulations designed to help protect the environment from poisonous and otherwise harmful chemicals and materials used throughout industry. It should be noted that many of the heavy metals and their compounds are toxic. Many organic, carbon-based materials and chemicals also are toxic, some to an extreme extent. Many materials and compounds are also nonbiodegradable, which means that they will remain in the environment indefinitely as waste products.

Bearing the preceding in mind,...