1910.1026(e): Chromium (VI) Regulated Areas
Employers must set up a regulated area wherever chromium (VI) exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the PEL. Areas must be marked off so employees know the boundaries, and access is limited to authorized people required to be there, employee representatives observing monitoring, and people authorized by the OSH Act.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1026(e) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 14 times in the last 3 years, in 14 inspections, with $28,898 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (6), WI (2), KY (1).
- Related part: 1910.1026(e)(1) Establishment (10 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1026(e) ("Regulated areas") is one requirement inside 1910.1026 Chromium (VI), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 6 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
(e) Regulated areas — 14 citations
(1) Establishment. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL. Open (e)(1) 10 citations
(2) Demarcation. The employer shall ensure that regulated areas are demarcated from the rest of the workplace in a manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees of the boundaries of the regulated area. 4 citations
(3) Access. The employer shall limit access to regulated areas to:
(i) Persons authorized by the employer and required by work duties to be present in the regulated area;
(ii) Any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising the right to observe monitoring procedures under paragraph (d) of this section; or
(iii) Any person authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Act or regulations issued under it to be in a regulated area.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1026.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: MI (6), WI (2), KY (1), GA (1), TN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MHI RJ CR&O | BRIDGEPORT, WV | $8,500 |
| SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, INC. | ATLANTA, GA | $6,452 |
| WINKLE INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED | ALLIANCE, OH | $5,244 |
| 66152 - NORTH AMERICAN STAINLESS GP | GHENT, KY | $3,375 |
| BAY CAST TECHNOLOGIES | BAY CITY, MI | $2,100 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1026(e), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of the Hexavalent Chromium Final Rule (2006-10-31)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1026(e)(1) Establishment 10 citations
Get your crew competent
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Frequently asked questions
When is a chromium (VI) regulated area required?
Wherever exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL.
Who can enter a regulated area?
Authorized persons required by work duties, employee representatives observing monitoring, and people authorized under the OSH Act.
How must the area be marked?
It must be demarcated so it alerts employees to its boundaries.
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.