OSHA recently issued an instruction to provide guidelines and establish uniform inspection and compliance procedures for the new hexavalent chromium workplace exposure standard that was promulgated Feb. 28, 2006 (OSHA Directive Number: CPL 02-02-074). This new directive sets forth OSHA’s policy and guidance for enforcing the hexavalent chromium workplace exposure standard. OSHA indicated that the guidance to compliance staff is necessary for effective enforcement of the applicable safety and health standards. Where the guidance directs a compliance officer to perform a specific inspection action, the compliance officer is to make every effort to perform the action, unless there is approved reason to do otherwise. OSHA does note that the guidance is meant to be a tool to ensure uniform inspection and compliance procedures, and it does not in any way affect the legal obligations of employers under the standard.