Request for the Technical Review of 19 Draft Skin Notation Assignments and Skin Notation Profiles

In 2009, NIOSH published Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 61 – A Strategy for assigning New NIOSH Skin Notations [ NIOSH 2009-147 ]. The CIB presents a strategic framework that is a form of hazard identification that has been designed to do the following:

• Ensure that the assigned skin notations reflect the contemporary state of scientific knowledge
• Provide transparency behind the assignment process
• Communicate the hazards of chemical exposures of the skin
• Meet the needs of health professionals, employers, and other interested par­ties in protecting workers from chemical contact with the skin.

This strategy involves the assignment of multiple skin notations for distinguishing systemic (SYS), direct (DIR), and sensitizing (SEN) effects caused by exposure of skin (SK) to chemicals. Chemicals that are highly or extremely toxic and may be potentially lethal or life-threatening following exposures of the skin are designated with the systemic subnotation (FATAL). Potential irritants and corrosive chemicals are indicated by the direct effects subnotations (IRR) and (COR), respectively. Thus with the new strategy, chemicals labeled as SK: SYS are recognized to contribute to systemic toxicity through dermal absorption.

Historically, skin notations have been published in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards [ NIOSH 2005-149 ]. This practice will continue with the NIOSH skin notation assignments for each evaluated chemical being integrated as they become available. Support documents called Skin Notation Profiles have been developed for each evaluated chemical. The Skin Notation Profile for a chemical provides information supplemental to the skin notation, including a summary of all relevant data used to aid in determining the hazards associated with skin exposures. Each Skin Notation Profile provides a detailed summary of the health hazards of the skin contact and the rationale for the proposed skin notation assignment for the chemical(s) of interest.

These documents have been determined by NIOSH to be Influential Scientific Assessments (ISA) in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines under the Federal Data Quality Act 2000 (Public Law 106-554, Section 1(a)(3)[515]). The goal of this review is to enhance the quality and credibility of NIOSH recommendations by ensuring that the scientific and technical work underlying these recommendations receives appropriate review by independent scientific and technical experts, stakeholders, and the public.

Draft Documents Available for Public Comment

The following 19 draft NIOSH Skin Notation Profiles are available for public review and comment. To view the notice and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2015-0021 in the search field and click “Search.” Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Public Comment Period

Comments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST on June 30, 2015.

Written comments, identified by CDC-2015-0021 and docket number NIOSH 153-C, may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: To view the notice and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2015-0021 in the search field and click “Search.” Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

  Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number [CDC-2015-0021; NIOSH 153-C]. All relevant comments, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov

• Mail: NIOSH Docket Office
  Robert A. Taft Laboratories
  MS-C34
  1090 Tusculum Avenue
  Cincinnati, OH 45226