Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Guidance for the Identification and Control of Safety and Health Hazards in Metal Scrap Recycling Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Anyone who works in the metal scrap recycling industry?employers, employees, safety professionals, and industrial hygienists?should read this publication. This guide can help you identify and manage the hazards associated with exposure to various metals and processing chemicals and with related processes and equipment used in metal scrap recycling operations. As an employer, this guide will help you protect your employees by helping you and your employees recognize, manage, and control the potential hazards associated with common metal scrap recycling processes. This guide will also assist safety professionals and industrial hygienists in their efforts to identify, evaluate, and develop appropriate controls for hazards related to metal scrap recycling processes. This document will assist employers and employees in recognizing and controlling typical health and safety hazards associated with various metal scrap recycling operations and in selecting appropriate control methods. This document does not provide an in-depth evaluation of every recycled material, or of every associated process-related hazard; rather it gives an overview of processes and related hazards common to a wide range of metal scrap recycling operations. Employers must evaluate their own operations, processes, and equipment to ensure that all hazards in their operations are identified and appropriately controlled. There are many relevant guidance documents and standards related to exposure to hazardous substances (including metals), working in industrial environments, and working with specific types of material handling and processing equipment that may be associated with recycling processes.