[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1990.132]

[Page 232-233]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1990_IDENTIFICATION, CLASSIFICATION, AND REGULATION OF POTENTIAL 
OCCUPATIONAL CARCINOGENS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1990.132  Factors to be considered.

    (a) The setting of priorities is a complex matter which requires 
subjective and policy judgments. It is not appropriate to establish a 
rigid formula or to assign predetermined weight to each factor. The 
identification of some of the elements is to guide the OSHA staff and 
inform the public on the development of priorities. It is not intended 
to create any legal rights with respect to the setting of priorities.
    (b) Some factors which may be taken into account in setting 
priorities for regulating potential occupational carcinogens, when such 
data are available, are:
    (1) The estimated number of workers exposed;
    (2) The estimated levels of human exposure;
    (3) The levels of exposure to the substance which have been reported 
to cause an increased incidence of neoplasms in exposed humans, animals 
or both;
    (4) The extent to which regulatory action could reduce not only 
risks of contracting cancer but also other occupational and 
environmental health hazards;

[[Page 233]]

    (5) Whether the molecular structure of the substance is similar to 
the molecular structure of another substance which meets the definition 
of a potential occupational carcinogen;
    (6) Whether there are substitutes that pose a lower risk of cancer 
or other serious human health problems, or available evidence otherwise 
suggests that the social and economic costs of regulation would be 
small; and
    (7) OSHA will also consider its responsibilities for dealing with 
other health and safety hazards and will consider the actions being 
taken or planned by other governmental agencies in dealing with the same 
or similar health and safety hazards.