29 CFR 1910 · General Industry

1910.1027(f)(2)(i): Written Cadmium Compliance Program

By Black Belt Safety Editorial Team Official text as of October 15, 2026 Data updated November 6, 2026 3 min read

In plain words:

When cadmium exposure is above the PEL, employers must set up and carry out a written plan to bring exposure down to or below the PEL using engineering and work practice controls. If those controls cannot get exposure low enough, the written plan must include the use of the right respirators.

Key takeaways

  • 1910.1027(f)(2)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
  • OSHA cited it 3 times in the last 3 years, in 3 inspections, with $9,643 in current penalties.
  • 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
  • Related part: 1910.1027(f) Methods of compliance (14 citations).
  • Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.

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3citations, 3 years
$9,643current penalties
3inspections
1linked deaths
In this article
  1. What this rule covers
  2. Official text
  3. Injuries linked to this rule
  4. Where and how often it was cited
  5. Free toolbox talk
  6. OSHA interpretation letters
  7. Related parts of this rule
  8. Get your crew competent
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. About this page

What this rule covers

29 CFR 1910.1027(f)(2)(i) is one requirement inside 1910.1027 Cadmium, 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) Where the PEL is exceeded, the employer shall establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by paragraph (f)(1) of this section. To the extent that engineering and work practice controls cannot reduce exposures to or below the PEL, the employer shall include in the written compliance program the use of appropriate respiratory protection to achieve compliance with the PEL. 3 citations

Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1027.

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Export the list: 3 inspections cited 1910.1027(f)(2)(i) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.

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Injuries linked to this rule

1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.1027(f)(2)(i).

Employee inhales plastic dust, later dies from pneumonia
2024-05-02 · Fatal · RIO RANCHO, NM

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

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OSHA interpretation letters

None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1027(f)(2)(i).

Related parts of this rule

Get your crew competent

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Frequently asked questions

When is a written cadmium compliance program required?

When employee exposure to cadmium is above the PEL.

What controls must the program use first?

Engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure to or below the PEL.

Where do respirators fit in?

If engineering and work practice controls cannot get exposure to or below the PEL, the written program must include appropriate respiratory protection.

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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