About 15,000 small manufacturing companies in the Chicago area will be among the first under the federal microscope when inspections for compliance with the Hazardous Communication Standard begin this week.

"Manufacturing companies that fit the SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes 20-39 must have their material data sheets available on hazardous chemicals," said Pat Clark, OSHA's assistant regional administrator for federal and state operations. "These codes do not divide the companies according to size, but by industry."

Though inspections are not new, OSHA inspectors making their unannounced visits will be looking for proof that employees know they are working with hazardous chemicals, OSHA's Regional Administrator Frank Strasheim said.