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

1.2This 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.

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

1.4Metal 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.

1.5This 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.