1910.1027(d)(3): Periodic Cadmium Monitoring
If monitoring shows employee cadmium exposure at or above the action level, the employer must keep monitoring at a frequency and pattern that represents exposure, at least every six months. If monitoring shows exposures below the action level and another result at least seven days later confirms it, monitoring may stop for those employees.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1027(d)(3) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $0 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- 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)(3) ("Monitoring Frequency (periodic monitoring)") is one requirement inside 1910.1027 Cadmium, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 2 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
(3) Monitoring Frequency (periodic monitoring). 1 citations
(i) If the initial monitoring or periodic monitoring reveals employee exposures to be at or above the action level, the employer shall monitor at a frequency and pattern needed to represent the levels of exposure of employees and where exposures are above the PEL to assure the adequacy of respiratory selection and the effectiveness of engineering and work practice controls. However, such exposure monitoring shall be performed at least every six months. The employer, at a minimum, shall continue these semi-annual measurements unless and until the conditions set out in paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section are met. Open (d)(3)(i) 1 citations
(ii) If the initial monitoring or the periodic monitoring indicates that employee exposures are below the action level and that result is confirmed by the results of another monitoring taken at least seven days later, the employer may discontinue the monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by such monitoring.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1027.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1027(d)(3).
At 10:00 a.m. on February 23, 2024, an employee working as a machine operator for an aircraft parts manufacturer was working in the fabrication department. The employee inhaled plastic dust which led to the employee developing pneumonia. At 9:00 a.m. on May 2, 2024, the…
Where and how often it was cited
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1027(d)(3), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1027(d)(3).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1027(d) Exposure monitoring 21 citations
- 1910.1027(d)(1) General 13 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
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Frequently asked questions
How often must cadmium monitoring be done at or above the action level?
At a frequency and pattern needed to represent exposure levels, but at least every six months.
When can periodic monitoring stop?
When monitoring shows exposures below the action level and that result is confirmed by another monitoring taken at least seven days later.
Why monitor above the PEL?
To assure the adequacy of respiratory selection and the effectiveness of engineering and work practice controls.
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.