Painting Facilities, Especially Small Ones, Get Regulatory Relief

Aircraft painting companies and other aviation users of methylene chloride were given substantially more time to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules aimed at lowering exposure rates to the caustic chemical. For employers with fewer than 50 employees, OSHA delayed until October 22, 2001 the date to install engineering and respirator controls that limit exposure. For companies with 50 or more employees, the new compliance date is October 22, 2000.