Cadmium – 1926 Construction

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1926.1127 – Cadmium

(b) – Definitions Applicable to This Subpart.

“Competent person,” in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.32(f), means a person designated by the employer to act on the employer’s behalf who is capable of identifying existing and potential cadmium hazards in the workplace and the proper methods to control them in order to protect workers, and has the authority necessary to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control such hazards. The duties of a competent person include at least the following: Determining prior to the performance of work whether cadmium is present in the workplace; establishing, where necessary, regulated areas and assuring that access to and from those areas is limited to authorized employees; assuring the adequacy of any employee exposure monitoring required by this standard; assuring that all employees exposed to air cadmium levels above the PEL wear appropriate personal protective equipment and are trained in the use of appropriate methods of exposure control; assuring that proper hygiene facilities are provided and that workers are trained to use those facilities; and assuring that the engineering controls required by this standard are implemented, maintained in proper operating condition, and functioning properly.

(d) – Exposure Monitoring.

(1) – General.

(i) – Prior to the performance of any construction work where employees may be potentially exposed to cadmium, the employer shall establish the applicability of this standard by determining whether cadmium is present in the workplace and whether there is the possibility that employee exposures will be at or above the action level. The employer shall designate a competent person who shall make this determination. Investigation and material testing techniques shall be used, as appropriate, in the determination. Investigation shall include a review of relevant plans, past reports, material safety data sheets, and other available records, and consultations with the property owner and discussions with appropriate individuals and agencies.

(ii) – Where cadmium has been determined to be present in the workplace, and it has been determined that there is a possibility the employee’s exposure will be at or above the action level, the competent person shall identify employees potentially exposed to cadmium at or above the action level.

(5) – Employee notification of monitoring results.

(i) – The employer must, as soon as possible but no later than 5 working days after the receipt of the results of any monitoring performed under this section, notify each affected employee of these results either individually in writing or by posting the results in an appropriate location that is accessible to employees.

(f) – Methods of compliance.

(2) – Specific operations.

(ii) – Heating cadmium and cadmium-containing materials. Welding, cutting, and other forms of heating of cadmium or cadmium-containing materials shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.353 and 29 CFR 1926.354, where applicable.

(5) – Compliance program.

(iii) – A competent person shall review the comprehensive compliance program initially and after each change.

(g) – Respiratory protection.

(2) – Respirator program.

(i) – The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with § 1910.134 (b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii)), and (f) through (m), which covers each employee required by this section to use a respirator.

(i) – Protective work clothing and equipment.

(3) – Cleaning, replacement, and disposal.

(v) – The employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment contaminated with cadmium of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to cadmium, and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner to effectively prevent the release of airborne cadmium in excess of the PEL.

(m) – Communication of cadmium hazards to employees.

(1) – General. In communications concerning cadmium hazards, employers shall comply with the requirements of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard for the construction industry, 29 CFR 1926.59, including but not limited to the requirements concerning warning signs and labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and employee information and training. In addition, employers shall comply with the following requirements:

(4) – Employee information and training.

(i) – The employer shall train each employee who is potentially exposed to cadmium in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program, ensure employee participation in the program, and maintain a record of the contents of the training program.

(ii) – Training shall be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to cadmium and at least annually thereafter.

(iii) – The employer shall make the training program understandable to the employee and shall assure that each employee is informed of the following:

(A) – The health hazards associated with cadmium exposure, with special attention to the information incorporated in Appendix A to this section;

(B) – The quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of cadmium in the workplace and the specific nature of operations that could result in exposure to cadmium, especially exposures above the PEL;

(C) – The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee’s job assignment;

(D) – The measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to cadmium, including modification of such habits as smoking and personal hygiene, and specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to cadmium such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and the provision of personal protective equipment;

(E) – The purpose, proper selection, fitting, proper use, and limitations of respirators and protective clothing;

(F) – The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (l) of this section;

(G) – The contents of this section and its appendices, and,

(H) – The employee’s rights of access to records under 1926.33(g)(1) and (2).

(iv) – Additional access to information and training program and materials.

(A) – The employer shall make a copy of this section and its appendices readily available to all affected employees and shall provide a copy without cost if requested.

(5) – Multi-employer workplace. In a multi-employer workplace, an employer who produces, uses, or stores cadmium in a manner that may expose employees of other employers to cadmium shall notify those employers of the potential hazard in accordance with paragraph (e) of the hazard communication standard for construction, 29 CFR 1926.59.

(o) – Observation of monitoring.

(1) – Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected employees or their designated representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to cadmium.