1910.1026(k)(1)(i): Who Gets Chromium (VI) Medical Surveillance
Employers must make medical surveillance available at no cost, at a reasonable time and place, to employees who are or may be exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year, who have signs or symptoms of health effects, or who are exposed in an emergency.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1026(k)(1)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 18 times in the last 3 years, in 18 inspections, with $67,481 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (7), WI (3), TN (2).
- Related part: 1910.1026(k) Medical surveillance (23 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.1026 Chromium (VI), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(i) The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for all employees: 18 citations
(A) Who are or may be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year; 8 citations
(B) Experiencing signs or symptoms of the adverse health effects associated with chromium (VI) exposure; or 1 citations
(C) Exposed in an emergency.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1026.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: MI (7), WI (3), TN (2), GA (1), OH (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| KEWAUNEE FABRICATIONS, L.L.C. | KEWAUNEE, WI | $13,005 |
| CENTURION INDUSTRIES, INC. DBA A-LERT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES | DECATUR, IL | $9,457 |
| 161081 - IMET ALLOYS INC. | MONROE, NC | $7,530 |
| UNIVERSAL STAINLESS AND ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC. | BRIDGEVILLE, PA | $7,093 |
| SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, INC. | ATLANTA, GA | $6,452 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1026(k)(1)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1026(k)(1)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1026(k) Medical surveillance 23 citations
- 1910.1026(k)(1) General 18 citations
- 1910.1026(k)(2) Frequency 4 citations
- 1910.1026(k)(2)(i) 1 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of exposure trigger surveillance?
Exposure at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year.
Do symptoms alone qualify an employee?
Yes. Employees experiencing signs or symptoms of chromium (VI) health effects are covered.
Is emergency exposure covered?
Yes. Employees exposed in an emergency are covered.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1026 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.