29 CFR 1926 · Construction · Subpart Z

1926.1127(m): Cadmium Hazard Communication

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of octubre 15, 2026 Data updated octubre 20, 2026 6 min read

In plain words:

Employers must include cadmium in their Hazard Communication program, give employees access to labels and safety data sheets, and train them, covering at least cancer, lung effects, kidney effects and acute toxicity. Warning signs with the required legend must be displayed in regulated areas and at all approaches, kept illuminated, clean and readable, and containers must carry appropriate warning labels.

Key takeaways

  • 1926.1127(m) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart Z).
  • OSHA cited it 17 times in the last 3 years, in 11 inspections, with $555 in current penalties.
  • Most citations: MI (13), OR (3), WI (1).
  • Related part: 1926.1127(m)(4) Employee information and training (15 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
17citations, 3 years
$555current penalties
11inspections
0linked injury cases
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Where and how often it was cited
  4. Free toolbox talk
  5. OSHA interpretation letters
  6. Related parts of this rule
  7. Get your crew competent
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1926.1127(m) ("Communication of cadmium hazards to employees") is one requirement inside 1926.1127 Cadmium, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart Z). It includes 27 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

(m) Communication of cadmium hazards to employees — 17 citations

(1) Hazard communication. The employer shall include cadmium in the program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (§ 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of cadmium and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (m)(4) of this section. The employer shall provide information on at least the following hazards: Cancer; lung effects; kidney effects; and acute toxicity effects. 1 citations

(2) Warning signs.

(i) Warning signs shall be provided and displayed in regulated areas. In addition, warning signs shall be posted at all approaches to regulated areas so that an employee may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area.

(ii) Warning signs required by paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section shall bear the following legend:

DANGER

CADMIUM

MAY CAUSE CANCER

CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND KIDNEYS

WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

(iii) The employer shall ensure that signs required by this paragraph (m)(2) are illuminated, cleaned, and maintained as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.

(iv) Prior to June 1, 2016, employers may use the following legend in lieu of that specified in paragraph (m)(2)(ii) of this section:

DANGER

CADMIUM

CANCER HAZARD

CAN CAUSE LUNG AND KIDNEY DISEASE

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

RESPIRATORS REQUIRED IN THIS AREA

(3) Warning labels. 1 citations

(i) Shipping and storage containers containing cadmium or cadmium compounds shall bear appropriate warning labels, as specified in paragraph (m)(1) of this section.

(ii) The warning labels for containers of cadmium-contaminated protective clothing, equipment, waste, scrap, or debris shall include at least the following information: 1 citations

DANGER

CONTAINS CADMIUM

MAY CAUSE CANCER

CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND KIDNEYS

AVOID CREATING DUST

(iii) Where feasible, installed cadmium products shall have a visible label or other indication that cadmium is present.

(iv) Prior to June 1, 2015, employers may include the following information on shipping and storage containers containing cadmium, cadmium compounds, or cadmium-contaminated clothing, equipment, waste, scrap, or debris in lieu of the labeling requirements specified in paragraphs (m)(3)(i) and (m)(3)(ii) of this section:

DANGER

CONTAINS CADMIUM

CANCER HAZARD

AVOID CREATING DUST

CAN CAUSE LUNG AND KIDNEY DISEASE

(4) Employee information and training. Open (m)(4) 15 citations

(i) The employer shall train each employee who is potentially exposed to cadmium in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program, ensure employee participation in the program, and maintain a record of the contents of the training program. 9 citations

(ii) Training shall be provided prior to or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to cadmium and at least annually thereafter. 1 citations

(iii) The employer shall make the training program understandable to the employee and shall assure that each employee is informed of the following: 1 citations

(A) The health hazards associated with cadmium exposure, with special attention to the information incorporated in appendix A to this section;

(B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of cadmium in the workplace and the specific nature of operations that could result in exposure to cadmium, especially exposures above the PEL;

(C) The engineering controls and work practices associated with the employee's job assignment;

(D) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to cadmium, including modification of such habits as smoking and personal hygiene, and specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to cadmium such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and the provision of personal protective equipment;

(E) The purpose, proper selection, fitting, proper use, and limitations of respirators and protective clothing;

(F) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (l) of this section;

(G) The contents of this section and its appendices, and, 1 citations

(H) The employee's rights of access to records under § 1926.33(g) (1) and (2).

(iv) Additional access to information and training program and materials. 4 citations

(A) The employer shall make a copy of this section and its appendices readily available to all affected employees and shall provide a copy without cost if requested. 4 citations

(B) Upon request, the employer shall provide to the Assistant Secretary or the Director all materials relating to the employee information and the training program.

(5) Multi-employer workplace. In a multi-employer workplace, an employer who produces, uses, or stores cadmium in a manner that may expose employees of other employers to cadmium shall notify those employers of the potential hazard in accordance with paragraph (e) of the hazard communication standard for construction, 29 CFR 1926.59.

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1926.1127.

Where and how often it was cited

YearCitations
20233
20245
20253
20266

Top states: MI (13), OR (3), WI (1)

Largest penalties

EmployerLocationPenalty for this rule
317733278 - ANDRITZ INCOR$555
ROCK RIVER TOWNSHIPCHATHAM, MI$0
NEXT GENERATION CONSTRUCTION, LLCLANSING, MI$0
CRIPPS FONTAINE EXCAVATING, INC.KALAMAZOO, MI$0
CR MANAGEMENT GROUP LLCCADOTT, WI$0

Free toolbox talk

A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.1127(m), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.




OSHA interpretation letters

None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.1127(m).

Related parts of this rule

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

What hazards must cadmium training cover?

At least cancer, lung effects, kidney effects and acute toxicity effects.

Where must cadmium warning signs go?

In regulated areas and at all approaches to regulated areas, so employees can read them and take protective steps before entering.

What does the warning sign say?

DANGER, CADMIUM, MAY CAUSE CANCER, CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND KIDNEYS, WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

About this page

Sources

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.

Written and reviewed by

Black Belt Safety Editorial Team

Site Safety Officer and Safety Professional

OSHA 30 · CPR · USACE CQM

Written and reviewed by the Black Belt Safety team. Every post is checked against the OSHA standard or agency source it cites.

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