Workbenches can now be coated with a special green color to help identify lead-free areas in manufacturing plants - helping uses cope with 'Restrictions on the use Of Hazardous Substances'.

Pro-Line, a recognized leader in modular ergonomics, announces that its workbenches can now be coated with a special green color to help identify lead-free areas in manufacturing plants. The new color, PGS6 green, was specifically developed for lead-free designation and is available on any of Pro-Line's workbench lines. This is particularly significant given the recent adoption of the directive known as 'Restrictions on the use Of Hazardous Substances' (RoHS).

This directive, which went into effect in Europe on July 1, 2006, mandates that electrical and electronic products (EEE) put in the market within the European Union (EU) shall contain restrictive levels of lead, as well as other substances, including cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

For manufacturers who ship product to Europe, the designation of an area as completely 'lead-free' is a critical element in complying with RoHS.

Because most U.S.

manufacturing plants are not completely lead-free, the solution is to designate one or more areas as lead free; workbenches, chairs, floor matting and other items are painted green so that employees will not introduce lead into these areas and contaminate product that is shipping to Europe.

Intended to protect human health and the environment RoHS applies to electrical and electronic equipment that is dependent on electric or electromagnetic fields in order to work properly.

It also applies to some equipment used for the generation, transfer, and measurement of such currents and fields designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1,000V for alternating current (AC) and 1,500V for direct current (DC).