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1.1 This practice sets forth guidelines to control respiratory hazards in the metal removal environment.

1.2 This practice does not include prevention of dermatitis which is the subject of Practice E2693 but it does adopt a similar systems management approach with many control elements in common.

1.3 This practice focuses on employee exposure via inhalation of metal removal fluids and associated airborne agents.

1.4 Metal removal fluids used for wet machining operations (such as cutting, drilling, milling or grinding) that remove metal to produce the finished part are a subset of metalworking fluids. This practice does not apply to other operations (such as stamping, rolling, forging or casting) that use metalworking fluids other than metal removal fluids. These other types of metalworking fluid operations are not included in this document because of limited information on health effects, including epidemiology studies, and on control technologies. Nonetheless, some of the exposure control approaches and guidance contained in this document may be useful for managing respiratory hazards associated with other types of metalworking fluids.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

4.1 Exposure to aerosols in the industrial metal removal environment has been associated with adverse respiratory effects.

4.2 Use of this practice will mitigate occupational exposure and effects of exposure to aerosols in the metal removal environment.

4.3 Through implementation of this practice users should be able to reduce instances and severity of respiratory irritation and disease through the effective use of a metal removal fluid management program, appropriate product selection, appropriate machine tool design, proper air handling mechanisms, and control of microorganisms.