CFR 116 - Occupational Exposure to Cadmium; Final Rules

On September 14, 1992, Federal OSHA promulgated a new general industry standard which regulates occupational exposure to cadmium. This new standard - 29 CFR 1910.1027 - establishes an 8 - hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit of 5 micrograms of cadmium per cubic meter of air for all cadmium compounds, including dust and fumes. Employers are required to comply with this limit primarily by means of engineering controls and work practices. For a small number of industries listed in Table I of the standard, OSHA has established a separate engineering control air limit as the lowest feasible above the PEL that can be achieved by engineering and work practice controls.

In addition, Federal OSHA promulgated a separate standard - 29 CFR 1926.63 - for cadmium in the construction industry. This was necessary in order to address differences in job durations, types of exposure, and worksite conditions. This construction standard includes the requirement for a competent person, the duties of whom are described under paragraph (b) Definitions.

These new federal final rules at 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart D were adopted verbatim in North Carolina by the Commissioner of Labor with an effective date of February 8, 1993.