1910.1027(k): Cadmium Housekeeping
Employers must keep surfaces as free as practicable of cadmium, clean spills as soon as possible, and clean by vacuuming with HEPA-filtered or equally effective equipment or other methods that minimize airborne cadmium. Sweeping, shoveling and brushing are allowed only where those methods were tried and failed, compressed air only with a ventilation system that captures the dust cloud, and contaminated waste must go in sealed, impermeable, labeled bags or containers.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1027(k) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 10 times in the last 3 years, in 8 inspections, with $8,902 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MO (2), TN (2), TX (1).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1027(k) ("Housekeeping") is one requirement inside 1910.1027 Cadmium, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 7 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
(k) Housekeeping. 10 citations
(1) All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium. 7 citations
(2) All spills and sudden releases of material containing cadmium shall be cleaned up as soon as possible.
(3) Surfaces contaminated with cadmium shall, wherever possible, be cleaned by vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of cadmium becoming airborne.
(4) HEPA-filtered vacuuming equipment or equally effective filtration methods shall be used for vacuuming. The equipment shall be used and emptied in a manner that minimizes the reentry of cadmium into the workplace.
(5) Shoveling, dry or wet sweeping, and brushing may be used only where vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of cadmium becoming airborne have been tried and found not to be effective. 2 citations
(6) Compressed air shall not be used to remove cadmium from any surface unless the compressed air is used in conjunction with a ventilation system designed to capture the dust cloud created by the compressed air.
(7) Waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers, personal protective equipment, and clothing contaminated with cadmium and consigned for disposal shall be collected and disposed of in sealed impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers. These bags and containers shall be labeled in accordance with paragraph (m) of this section. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1027.
Export the list: 8 inspections cited 1910.1027(k) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Top states: MO (2), TN (2), TX (1), WI (1), IL (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST SOLAR INC. | NEW IBERIA, LA | $7,093 |
| MONROE LABS, LLC | STROUDSBURG, PA | $1,809 |
| MYANE INSULATION & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. | PREMONT, TX | $0 |
| THE BUICK RESOURCE RECYCLING FACILITY | BOSS, MO | $0 |
| UNIVERSAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | JANESVILLE, WI | $0 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1027(k).
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Frequently asked questions
How should cadmium dust be cleaned up?
By vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of cadmium becoming airborne, using HEPA-filtered or equally effective equipment.
Can I sweep cadmium dust?
Only where vacuuming or other low-dust methods have been tried and found not to be effective.
Can compressed air be used?
Not unless it is used with a ventilation system designed to capture the dust cloud created.
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 2026-11-06
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.