i did google this, but cant seem to find anything related to materials found outside of containers. we arent talking about spills either. i did however email OSHA, (did NOT report the company, im not trying to do that) and when they respond, i will post the response here. as a matter of fact, here is what i had emailed them.
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The company that i work for rebuilds industrial transmissions. these industrial transmissions are from heavy equipment, such as, construction equipment transmissions, off road lift truck transmissions, and transmissions from heavy equipment that is found in factories and warehouses.

i have looked through the site here, and most of what i find is for chemicals that come into the company in containers. we do use solvents, but i am sure that we are compliant with the OSHA laws regarding these substances. My question is more related as to my employers responsibility to protect me from what is found on the OUTSIDE of these transmissions. When we receive a transmission, it is either on a skid, or in a crate. these are used transmissions, and they usually come from a dealer. so where these transmissions originate is usually a mystery to us transmission techs that must clean the outside of the transmission before we can disassemble it.

these are usually covered in grease or oil. which is easy to protect ourselves from. however, sometimes there are curious chemicals on the outside of the transmission. odd smells. solids that produce a lot of dust. i have suggested to my company that we should have a sealed booth, with a pressure washer of sorts to clean off the transmissions. i have experienced dizzyness, shortness of breath, and burning sensations in my lungs. the answer to this complaint to my boss is that those are things that happen when you dont know what you are cleaning off of a transmission.

so what are my employers responsibilities to protect me from this material that can be found on the outside of these transmissions? it is currently almost impossible to know where a transmission originated. we do international business. agriculture. construction. and factories. so i think that i *could* have a moderate risk of being exposed to pesticide, fertilizers, and random hazardous and or toxic chemicals. how do i evaluate my risk level? or is this the responsibility of my employer?