Subpart M - Occupational Health

Scope: This standard provides the requirements pertaining to cadmium. See § 1910.1027, Cadmium.

Special Requirements: Permissible exposure limit, engineering controls, work practice controls, regulated areas, demarcation, respirators, PPE, authorized persons, exposure monitoring, determine, monitor, training, time-weighted average, methods, data, work practices, demonstrating, sampling, action level, job classification, (written) compliance program, report, schedule of implementation, housekeeping, HEPA vacuuming, work practice program, description, (written) plan for emergency situations, procedures, reporting, physician, written opinion, monitoring results, hazard communication program, warning signs, medical removal, medical surveillance, posted, labeling, examinations, tests, safety data sheets, medical records, observation procedures, exposure records, references other standards

1910.1027(a) - Scope. This standard applies to all occupational exposures to cadmium and cadmium compounds, in all forms, and in all industries covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, except the construction-related industries, which are covered under 29 CFR 1926.63 (1926.1127) - cadmium.

1910.1027(c) - Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of cadmium in excess of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 µg/m³), calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average exposure (TWA).

1910.1027(d)(1)(i) - Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this section shall determine if any employee may be exposed to cadmium at or above the action level.

1910.1027(d)(1)(ii) - Determinations of employee exposure shall be made from breathing zone air samples that reflect the monitored employee's regular, daily 8-hour TWA exposure to cadmium.

1910.1027(d)(1)(iii) - Eight-hour TWA exposures shall be determined for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing zone air samples reflecting full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area. Where several employees perform the same job tasks, in the same job classification, on the same shift, in the same work area, and the length, duration, and level of cadmium exposures are similar, an employer may sample a representative fraction of the employees instead of all employees in order to meet this requirement. In representative sampling, the employer shall sample the employee(s) expected to have the highest cadmium exposures.

1910.1027(d)(2)(i) - Initial monitoring. Except as provided for in paragraphs (d)(2)(ii) and (d)(2)(iii) of this section, the employer shall monitor employee exposures and shall base initial determinations on the monitoring results.

1910.1027(d)(2)(ii) - Where the employer has monitored after September 14, 1991, under conditions that in all important aspects closely resemble those currently prevailing and where that monitoring satisfies all other requirements of this section, including the accuracy and confidence levels of paragraph (d)(6) of this section, the employer may rely on such earlier monitoring results to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section.

1910.1027(d)(2)(iii) - Where the employer has objective data, as defined in paragraph (n)(2) of this section, demonstrating that employee exposure to cadmium will not exceed the action level under the expected conditions of processing, use, or handling, the employer may rely upon such data instead of implementing initial monitoring.

1910.1027(d)(3) - Monitoring Frequency (periodic monitoring). [Reference paragraph (d)(3)(i) - (ii)].

1910.1027(d)(4) - Additional Monitoring. The employer also shall institute the exposure monitoring required under paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (d)(3) of this section whenever there has been a change in the raw materials, equipment, personnel, work practices, or finished products that may result in additional employees being exposed to cadmium at or above the action level or in employees already exposed to cadmium at or above the action level being exposed above the PEL, or whenever the employer has any reason to suspect that any other change might result in such further exposure.

1910.1027(d)(5) - Employee Notification of Monitoring Results. [Reference paragraph (d)(5)(i) - (ii)].

1910.1027(d)(6) - Accuracy of measurement. The employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis that has an accuracy of not less than plus or minus 25 percent (±25%), with a confidence level of 95 percent, for airborne concentrations of cadmium at or above the action level, the permissible exposure limit (PEL), and the separate engineering control air limit (SECAL).

1910.1027(e)(1) - Establishment. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium is, or can reasonably be expected to be in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

1910.1027(e)(2) - Demarcation. Regulated areas shall be demarcated from the rest of the workplace in any manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees of the boundaries of the regulated area.

1910.1027(e)(3) - Access. Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons.

1910.1027(e)(4) - Provision of respirators. Each person entering a regulated area shall be supplied with and required to use a respirator, selected in accordance with paragraph (g)(2) of this section.

1910.1027(e)(5) - Prohibited activities. The employer shall assure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas, carry the products associated with these activities into regulated areas, or store such products in those areas.

1910.1027(f)(1)(i) - Except as specified in paragraphs (f)(1)(ii), (iii) and (iv) of this section the employer shall implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cadmium at or below the PEL, except to the extent that the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible.

1910.1027(f)(1)(ii) - Except as specified in paragraphs (f)(1)(iii) and (iv) of this section, in industries where a separate engineering control air limit (SECAL) has been specified for particular processes [See Table 1 in this paragraph (f)(1)(ii)], the employer shall implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure at or below the SECAL, except to the extent that the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible.

1910.1027(f)(1)(iii) - The requirement to implement engineering and work practice controls to achieve the PEL or, where applicable, the SECAL does not apply where the employer demonstrates the following: [Reference paragraph (f)(1)(iii)(A) - (B)].

1910.1027(f)(1)(iv) - Wherever engineering and work practice controls are required and are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL or, where applicable, the SECAL, the employer nonetheless shall implement such controls to reduce exposures to the lowest levels achievable. The employer shall supplement such controls with respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section and the PEL.

1910.1027(f)(1)(v) - The employer shall not use employee rotation as a method of compliance.

1910.1027(f)(2)(i) - Where the PEL is exceeded, the employer shall establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by paragraph (f)(1) of this section. To the extent that engineering and work practice controls cannot reduce exposures to or below the PEL, the employer shall include in the written compliance program the use of appropriate respiratory protection to achieve compliance with the PEL.

1910.1027(f)(2)(ii) - Written compliance programs shall include at least the following: [Reference paragraph (f)(2)(ii) - (iv)].

1910.1027(g)(1) - General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this paragraph. Respirators must be used during: [Reference paragraph (g)(1)(ii) - (vii)].

1910.1027(g)(2) - Respirator program. [Reference paragraph (g)(2) - (3)].

1910.1027(h) - Emergency situations. The employer shall develop and implement a written plan for dealing with emergency situations involving substantial releases of airborne cadmium. The plan shall include provisions for the use of appropriate respirators and personal protective equipment. In addition, employees not essential to correcting the emergency situation shall be restricted from the area and normal operations halted in that area until the emergency is abated.

1910.1027(i)(1) - Provision and use. If an employee is exposed to airborne cadmium above the PEL or where skin or eye irritation is associated with cadmium exposure at any level, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee, and assure that the employee uses, appropriate protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination of the employee and the employee's garments. Protective work clothing and equipment includes, but is not limited to: [Reference paragraph (i)(1) - (3)].

1910.1027(j)(1) - General. For employees whose airborne exposure to cadmium is above the PEL, the employer shall provide clean change rooms, handwashing facilities, showers, and lunchroom facilities that comply with 29 CFR 1910.141 - sanitation.

1910.1027(j)(2) - Change rooms. The employer shall assure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for street clothes and for protective clothing and equipment, which are designed to prevent dispersion of cadmium and contamination of the employee's street clothes.

1910.1027(j)(3) - Showers and handwashing facilities. [Reference paragraph (j)(3)(i) - (ii)].

1910.1027(j)(4)(ii) - The employer shall assure that employees do not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface cadmium has been removed from the clothing and equipment by HEPA vacuuming or some other method that removes cadmium dust without dispersing it.

1910.1027(k) - Housekeeping. [Reference paragraph (k)(1) - (7)].

1910.1027(l) - Medical surveillance.[Reference paragraph (l)(1) - (5)].

1910.1027(l)(6) - Examination for respirator use. [Reference paragraph (l)(6) - (8)].

1910.1027(l)(9) - Information provided to the physician. The employer shall provide the following information to the examining physician: [Reference paragraph (l)(9)(i) - (v)].

1910.1027(l)(10) - Physician's written medical opinion. [Reference paragraph (l)(10)(i) - (iii)].

1910.1027(l)(11) - Medical Removal Protection (MRP). [Reference paragraph (l)(11)(i) - (vi)].

1910.1027(l)(12) - Medical Removal Protection Benefits (MRPB). [Reference paragraph (l)(12)(i) - (iv)].

1910.1027(l)(13) - Multiple physician review. [Reference paragraph (l)(13)(i) - (v)].

1910.1027(l)(14) - Alternate physician determination. The employer and an employee or designated employee representative may agree upon the use of any alternate form of physician determination in lieu of the multiple physician review provided by paragraph (l)(13) of this section, so long as the alternative is expeditious and at least as protective of the employee.

1910.1027(l)(15) - Information the employer must provide the employee. [Reference paragraph (l)(15)(i) - (iii)].

1910.1027(l)(16) - Reporting. In addition to other medical events that are required to be reported on the OSHA Form No. 200 (

OSHA Form 300), the employer shall report any abnormal condition or disorder caused by occupational exposure to cadmium associated with employment as specified in Chapter (V)(E) of the Reporting Guidelines for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

1910.1027(m)(1)(i) - Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers shall comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200) for cadmium.

1910.1027(m)(1)(ii) - In classifying the hazards of cadmium at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer; lung effects; kidney effects; and acute toxicity effects.

1910.1027(m)(1)(iii) - Employers shall include cadmium in the hazard communication program established to comply with the HCS (§ 1910.1200). Employers shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of cadmium and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and paragraph (m)(4) of this section.

1910.1027(m)(2) - Warning signs. [Reference paragraph (m)(2)(i) - (iv)].

1910.1027(m)(3) - Warning labels. [Reference paragraph (m)(3)(i) - (iv)].

1910.1027(m)(4) - Employee information and training. [Reference paragraph (m)(4)(i) - (iv)].

1910.1027(n) - Recordkeeping. [Reference paragraph (n)(1) - (3)].

1910.1027(n)(4)(i) - Except as otherwise provided for in this section, access to all records required to be maintained by paragraphs (n)(1) through (3) of this section shall be in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1020 - access to employee exposure and medical records.

1910.1027(n)(4)(ii) - Within 15 days after a request, the employer shall make an employee's medical records required to be kept by paragraph (n)(3) of this section available for examination and copying to the subject employee, to designated representatives, to anyone having the specific written consent of the subject employee, and after the employee's death or incapacitation, to the employee's family members.

1910.1027(o) - Observation of monitoring. [Reference paragraph (o)(1) - (2)].