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OSHA rules may or may not apply to zinc poisoning. But that's not the point of the article, or of Bush's new rule.

It's not about whether mntnman's friend has a grievance--it's about actually preventing all workers from future harm.

FTA:

"The Labor Department regulates occupational health hazards posed by a wide variety of substances like asbestos, benzene, cotton dust, formaldehyde, lead, vinyl chloride and blood-borne pathogens, including the virus that causes AIDS.
"Public health officials and labor unions said the rule would delay needed protections for workers, resulting in additional deaths and illnesses."

and:

"The department is constantly considering whether to take steps to protect workers against hazardous substances. Currently, it is assessing substances like silica, beryllium and diacetyl, a chemical that adds the buttery flavor to some types of microwave popcorn.

"The proposal applies to two agencies in the Labor Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

"Under the proposal, they would have to publish 'advance notice of proposed rule-making,' soliciting public comment on studies, scientific information and data to be used in drafting a new rule. In some cases, OSHA has done that, but it is not required to do so."

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