1910.1026(i): Chromium (VI) Hygiene Areas and Practices
Where protective clothing is required, employers must provide change rooms with separate storage that prevents cross-contamination, and where skin contact with chromium (VI) occurs, readily accessible washing facilities. Employees with skin contact must wash hands and faces at the end of the shift and before eating, drinking, smoking or using the toilet, and must not bring contaminated gear into eating areas.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1026(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 57 times in the last 3 years, in 39 inspections, with $96,298 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (10), TN (10), GA (5).
- Related part: 1910.1026(i)(4) Eating and drinking areas (24 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1026(i) ("Hygiene areas and practices") is one requirement inside 1910.1026 Chromium (VI), an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 9 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
(i) Hygiene areas and practices — 57 citations
(1) General. Where protective clothing and equipment is required, the employer shall provide change rooms in conformance with 29 CFR 1910.141. Where skin contact with chromium (VI) occurs, the employer shall provide washing facilities in conformance with 29 CFR 1910.141. Eating and drinking areas provided by the employer shall also be in conformance with § 1910.141. Open (i)(1) 7 citations
(2) Change rooms. The employer shall assure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for protective clothing and equipment and for street clothes, and that these facilities prevent cross-contamination. 1 citations
(3) Washing facilities. 9 citations
(i) The employer shall provide readily accessible washing facilities capable of removing chromium (VI) from the skin, and shall ensure that affected employees use these facilities when necessary. 3 citations
(ii) The employer shall ensure that employees who have skin contact with chromium (VI) wash their hands and faces at the end of the work shift and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet. 6 citations
(4) Eating and drinking areas. Open (i)(4) 24 citations
(i) Whenever the employer allows employees to consume food or beverages at a worksite where chromium (VI) is present, the employer shall ensure that eating and drinking areas and surfaces are maintained as free as practicable of chromium (VI). Open (i)(4)(i) 16 citations
(ii) The employer shall ensure that employees do not enter eating and drinking areas with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface chromium (VI) has been removed from the clothing and equipment by methods that do not disperse chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee's body. 8 citations
(5) Prohibited activities. The employer shall ensure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas, or in areas where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurs; or carry the products associated with these activities, or store such products in these areas. Open (i)(5) 16 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1026.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 31 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 9 |
Top states: IL (10), TN (10), GA (5), MI (5), ID (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CENTURION INDUSTRIES, INC. DBA A-LERT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES | DECATUR, IL | $14,187 |
| LMI FINISHING, INC. | CATOOSA, OK | $11,524 |
| MINGO AEROSPACE LLC | OWASSO, OK | $8,937 |
| CAMERON MANUFACTURING & DESIGN - FLORIDA | ORLANDO, FL | $8,937 |
| PAMARCO GLOBAL GRAPHICS, INC. | BATAVIA, IL | $7,300 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1026(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Dust wipe sampling is not required to prove surfaces are as free as practicable (2014-11-05)
- Clarification of the Chromium (VI) Standard - Change Rooms and Hygiene Practices. (2011-09-02)
- Applicability of the hexavalent chromium standard to welders. (2011-02-23)
- Clarification of the Hexavalent Chromium Final Rule (2006-10-31)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1026(i)(4) Eating and drinking areas 24 citations
- 1910.1026(i)(5) Prohibited activities 16 citations
- 1910.1026(i)(4)(i) 16 citations
- 1910.1026(i)(1) General 7 citations
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
When must workers wash after chromium (VI) skin contact?
At the end of the work shift and before eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet.
Can workers wear protective clothing into eating areas?
Not unless surface chromium (VI) has been removed by methods that do not spread it into the air or onto the body.
What must change rooms have?
Separate storage for protective clothing and street clothes that prevents cross-contamination.
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.