1910.1026(d)(2)(i): Initial Chromium (VI) Exposure Monitoring
Employers must do initial monitoring to find each employee's 8-hour TWA exposure to chromium (VI), using enough personal breathing zone air samples to show full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area. If representative sampling is used, the employer must sample the employees expected to have the highest exposures.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1026(d)(2)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 57 times in the last 3 years, in 56 inspections, with $125,529 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (12), IL (6), NE (5).
- Related part: 1910.1026(d) Exposure determination (252 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.1026 Chromium (VI), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). 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 perform initial monitoring to determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of a sufficient number of personal breathing zone air samples to accurately characterize full shift exposure on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area. Where an employer does representative sampling instead of sampling all employees in order to meet this requirement, the employer shall sample the employee(s) expected to have the highest chromium (VI) exposures. 57 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1026.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1026(d)(2)(i).
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
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 17 |
Top states: MI (12), IL (6), NE (5), CO (4), FL (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ICS, INC. | WAHPETON, ND | $14,063 |
| MOUNTAIN MEADOWS LAMB CORPORATION | DENVER, CO | $12,059 |
| AERSALE COMPONENTS SOLUTIONS | RIO RANCHO, NM | $9,643 |
| MHI RJ CR&O | BRIDGEPORT, WV | $8,500 |
| STANDARD IRON NE, LLC | GRAND ISLAND, NE | $8,441 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1026(d)(2)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1026(d)(2)(i).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1026(d) Exposure determination 252 citations
- 1910.1026(d)(1) General 172 citations
- 1910.1026(d)(2) Scheduled monitoring option 73 citations
- 1910.1026(d)(2)(iv) 6 citations
- 1910.1026(d)(3) Performance-oriented option
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Frequently asked questions
What kind of samples are used for chromium (VI) monitoring?
Personal breathing zone air samples, enough to accurately characterize full shift exposure.
Must every employee be sampled?
Not necessarily; representative sampling is allowed, but it must include the employees expected to have the highest exposures.
How is the monitoring broken down?
By each shift, each job classification and each work area.
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.