The workplace is filled with many harmful substances, fumes, mists, dusts, vapors, and gasses. Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Compliance Handbook for the Metalworking Industries provides professionals in metal finishing, surface preparation, and plating industries with an easy-to-use, single-volume guide to hazardous materials commonly found in those sectors. Most of these materials are regulated and/or referenced in diverse sources, including voluntary standards and governmental chemical lists. All are the subject of workplace and environmental safety concerns.

The metal fabrication and finishing industry is classified as SIC (Standard Industry Classification) code 34 by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. This SIC code is composed of establishments that fabricate ferrous and nonferrous metal products and those that perform electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing, coloring, and coating operations on metals. The main processes associated with the industry can be divided into three types of operations: metal fabrication, metal preparation, and metal finishing. The U.S. Department of Commerce classification codes divide this industry by products and services. SIC code 34 is further divided as follows:

·     SIC 341 - Metal Cans and Shipping Containers

·     SIC 342 - Cutlery, Handtools, and General Hardware

·                                               SIC 343 - Heating Equipment, Except Electric and Warm Air, and Plumbing Fixtures

·     SIC 344 - Fabricated Structural Metal Products

·                                               SIC 345 - Screw Machine Products, and Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets, and Washers

·     SIC 346 - Metal Forging and Stampings

·     SIC 347 - Coating, Engraving, and Allied Services

·                                               SIC 348 - Ordinance and Accessories, Except Vehicles and Guided Missiles

·     SIC 349 - Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products

The primary markets for metal finishing services are the automotive, electronics, consumer durables, and aerospace industries, and government.

There are many books on hazardous chemicals, but few are industry-specific or offer an integrated compilation of safety and environmental compliance data. The authors sincerely trust that the professionals and business people who use this book will feel free to communicate their comments on the hazardous materials that have been included, as well as the scope of their treatment.