OSHA Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (29 CFR Part 1926) 1926.1126: 1926.1126 Chromium (VI)

Applies to chromium (VI) in every form and compound in construction, except exposure during application of pesticides regulated by EPA or another federal agency (such as treating wood with preservatives), exposure to portland cement, and materials or processes that objective data show cannot release chromium (VI) dusts, fumes or mists at or above 0.5 µg/m3 (8-hour TWA) in any expected use. The action level is 2.5 µg/m3 and the PEL is 5 µg/m3, both as 8-hour TWAs. Defined terms also cover emergency (an uncontrolled release) and historical monitoring data (collected before 30 May 2006 under closely similar conditions). Exposure determination: each exposed employee's 8-hour TWA is set either by scheduled monitoring or by the performance-oriented option (any mix of air monitoring, historical monitoring data or objective data that accurately characterises exposure). Scheduled monitoring starts with enough personal breathing zone samples to characterise full-shift exposure per shift, job classification and work area (representative sampling must target the highest exposures). It may stop if initial results are below the action level; periodic monitoring is at least six-monthly for results at or over the action level and at least three-monthly for results over the PEL; it may stop once a result under the action level is confirmed by another taken at least seven days later. Extra monitoring follows changes in process, materials, equipment, personnel, work practices or controls, or any reason to suspect new exposure. Methods must be accurate to plus or minus 25% at 95% confidence at or above the action level. Results go to affected employees within 5 work days, in writing or by posting, with corrective action stated if above the PEL. Monitoring may be observed. Controls: engineering and work practice controls must bring exposure to or below the PEL unless infeasible, reducing it as far as achievable and adding respirators when they fall short. That duty is lifted for a process or task whose exposure exceeds the PEL on fewer than 30 days in any 12-month span. Job rotation may not be used to comply. Respirators are required during control installation, infeasible work such as maintenance, residual overexposure, overexposure on fewer than 30 days where controls were not installed, and emergencies, under a 1910.134 program. Protective clothing and equipment are supplied free wherever skin or eye contact is a hazard; removed at shift end or task completion; not taken from the workplace except by those whose job is laundering, cleaning, maintenance or disposal; carried in sealed impermeable bags or containers labelled under the HCS; cleaned, repaired and replaced as needed; never cleaned by blowing or shaking; and launderers are told of the hazard. Change rooms with separate storage, washing facilities and eating areas must meet 1926.51. Employees with skin contact wash hands and face at shift end and before eating, drinking, smoking, chewing, applying cosmetics or using the toilet; eating areas are kept as free of chromium (VI) as practicable; contaminated gear stays out unless surface contamination is removed without dispersal; no eating, drinking, smoking, chewing or cosmetics where skin or eye contact occurs. Medical surveillance is free for employees reaching the action level on 30 days or more per year, those with symptoms and those exposed in an emergency: within 30 days of initial assignment (unless examined in the last twelve months), annually, within 30 days of a PLHCP recommendation, on signs or symptoms, within 30 days of an emergency exposure, and at termination unless examined within six months. Exams cover history (including asthma, dermatitis, skin ulceration, nasal septum perforation, smoking), skin and respiratory tract. The employer gets the PLHCP's written opinion within 30 days, with no unrelated findings, and passes a copy to the employee within two weeks. The HCS program must cover at least cancer, eye irritation and skin sensitization; employees must know this section's contents and the medical surveillance program; a copy is available free. Air monitoring, historical data, objective data and medical records are kept under 1910.1020. Obligations began 27 November 2006 (20 or more employees) and 30 May 2007 (19 or fewer); engineering controls were due by 31 May 2010.