The objective of this management regime is to provide everyone with guidelines for the safe processing and removal of coatings containing hexavalent chromium. It is assumed that the measures to prevent exposure to hexavalent chromium during work will also help to prevent exposure to other hazardous substances.

What’s the risk?

In the past, paint/coatings containing hexavalent chromium have been used to preserve metals, concrete and wooden building materials. Hexavalent chromium compounds can be released during the processing or removal of these coatings from objects such as bridges/engineering structures, stations and buildings.

Hexavalent chromium is harmful to health. It can cause diseases such as cancer. There is a risk only when people are exposed to hexavalent chromium, for example during work
with coatings containing hexavalent chromium. The health risk increases with the intensity and duration of the exposure.

Management Regime: work in progress

This management regime prescribes measures to prevent exposure to hexavalent chromium during the processing or removal of coatings. The regime is meant to be a working document and it will be further developed and substantiated by observations in the coming period.

Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), ProRail and Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (RVB) will use the time to come to collect measurement data from studies on the emission of hexavalent chromium during the
processing or removal of coatings. This will involve comparing different techniques in different conditions. The research results may lead to changes in the measures in the management regime or to techniques being added as safe working practices.