Today, however, OSHA officials insisted they were correct to take the same approach again in citing the individual cases.

OSHA officials say that has been a result of federal pressures and of companies' taking steps to improve workplace safety.

The agency has yet to produce either standard, though OSHA officials say they are working on them.

OSHA officials believe the employer in this case was aware of the hazard and did little to abate the problem.

OSHA officials said their inspection had not been related to the tuberculosis or the state's findings.

OSHA officials also estimated that it would cost $4.2 billion to put the regulations in place.

OSHA officials would not discuss their handling of the case.

But over three decades it has proposed civil fines exceeding $1 million against just 15 employers, OSHA officials said.

The company faces penalties of $72,450, OSHA officials said.

But OSHA officials explained that laboratories tended to use many different chemicals, often in minute quantities.