OSHA Guidance for the Identification and Control of Metal Scrap Recycling Hazards

Guide to help identify and manage the hazards associated with exposure to various metals and processing chemicals.

The Audience for This Guide

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.

Why This Guide Is Important

Metal scrap recycling, also called secondary metal processing, is a large industry that processes, in the U.S. alone, 56 million tons of scrap iron and steel (including 10 million tons of scrap automobiles), 1.5 million tons of scrap copper, 2.5 million tons of scrap aluminum, 1.3 million tons of scrap lead, 300,000 tons of scrap zinc and 800,000 tons of scrap stainless steel, and…