Rules for handling a common chemical now match the rules for breathing protection

The US Labor Department is updating its rules for handling acrylonitrile, a chemical used in plastics and rubber. The new rules will align with the agency's general standards for respiratory protection.

Companies that use acrylonitrile will now follow one consistent set of rules for worker breathing protection, instead of two different ones. This simplifies compliance for manufacturers and ensures workers are protected under the most current safety standards. It removes a small but persistent point of friction between two overlapping sets of regulations.