1910.1027(d)(1): Determining Cadmium Exposure
Employers covered by the cadmium rule must find out if any employee may be exposed at or above the action level, using breathing zone air samples that reflect each employee's regular 8-hour TWA exposure on each shift, job classification and work area. Representative sampling is allowed for similar jobs, but must include the employees expected to have the highest exposure.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1027(d)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 13 times in the last 3 years, in 13 inspections, with $28,259 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TX (2), WI (2), FL (2).
- Related part: 1910.1027(d) Exposure monitoring (21 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1027(d)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1910.1027 Cadmium, 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
(1) General. 13 citations
(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. 9 citations
(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. 1 citations
(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. 3 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1027.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: TX (2), WI (2), FL (2), OH (1), OR (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| GA TELESIS LANDING GEAR SERVICES, LLC | MIAMI, FL | $9,268 |
| OUTDOOR FURNITURE REFINISHING, INC. | HOUSTON, TX | $8,067 |
| NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE INC. | CLARKSVILLE, TN | $5,000 |
| PENINSULA METAL FINISHING, INC. | ORLANDO, FL | $3,547 |
| JORDAN PROPELLER SERVICES INC | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,700 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1027(d)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1027(d)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1027(d) Exposure monitoring 21 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(2)(i) 4 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(2) Specific 4 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(5) Employee Notification of Monitoring Results 3 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(5)(ii) 2 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(5)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(3)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(3) Monitoring Frequency (periodic monitoring) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must the employer determine first?
Whether any employee may be exposed to cadmium at or above the action level.
What samples are used?
Breathing zone air samples reflecting the employee's regular, daily 8-hour TWA exposure.
Can the employer sample only some workers?
Yes, for workers doing the same tasks with similar exposures, but they must sample those expected to have the highest exposure.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1027 (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 2026-10-22
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.