Delays in Setting Workplace Standards for Cancer-Causing and Other Dangerous Substances

A report issued on May 10, 1977, dealt with efforts to develop and issue health standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Responsibility for establishing standards was delegated to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Standards for toxic substances are not keeping pace with substances already idenfified as hazards nor with new substances being introduced. As part of a standards completion project, NIOSH gave OSHA its recommendations for 203 substances, but as of September 30, 1976, OSHA had issued no final revised standards. Administrative problems contributing to delays were lack of adequate data for deciding priorities for substances, OSHA's lack of an adequate management information system, OSHA limited use of emergency temporary standarads, OSHA approach to developing comprehensive standards on exposure limits and to other protective measures, lack of NIOSH or OSHA policies on evidence needed to support the classifying of a substance as a carcinogen, limited teamwork by OSHA and NIOSH, time involved in inflationary-impact evaluations, and NIOSH direction of laboratory and field research activities. GAO recommends that the Secretaries of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare were to estimate total needs for health standards, determine whether and to what extent additional funds can be effectively used, and base decisions on standards development partly on OSHA ability to act promptly.