Hexavalent Chromium Awareness

What chromium (VI) is and why it matters

Hexavalent chromium, also written chromium (VI) or Cr(VI), is chromium with a valence of positive six, in any form and in any compound.

The hazards you must be told about

The standards have narrow exceptions. For example, exposures to portland cement are not covered by them.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(b) "Chromium (VI)" · 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(j)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(a)(3) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(a)(3) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(2)(ii)

The two numbers and your results

Your exposure is measured as the airborne level you would breathe if you were not wearing a respirator.

Monitoring and your results

• Under the scheduled monitoring option, exposures at or above the action level are monitored at least every six months; exposures above the PEL, at least every three months.
• You (or your designated representative) must get an opportunity to observe the monitoring.
• You must be told your results in writing, or they must be posted where you can see them: within 15 work days in general industry, within 5 work days in construction.
• If your exposure is above the PEL, the written notice must describe the corrective action being taken.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(c) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(c) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(b) "Action level" · 29 CFR 1910.1026(b) "Employee exposure" · 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(2)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(d)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(4)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(6)(i)

Controls come first, respirators fill the gap

Your employer must use engineering and work practice controls, such as ventilation and safer work methods, to keep your exposure at or below the PEL, unless it can show they are not feasible. If those controls are not enough, they must still be used to get exposure as low as achievable, and respirators are added on top.

Respirators are required during

• Time needed to install or implement feasible controls
• Work such as maintenance and repair where controls are not feasible
• Work where all feasible controls are in place but exposure is still above the PEL
• Work above the PEL on fewer than 30 days per year where the employer has chosen not to install controls for it (an exception the standards allow)
• Emergencies, meaning any occurrence that results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of chromium (VI). An incidental release that employees in the immediate area, or maintenance personnel, can control at the time of release is not an emergency.

When respirators are required, you must be covered by a respiratory protection program under 29 CFR 1910.134.

Construction has the same rules in 29 CFR 1926.1126(e) and (f). General industry also has a special limit for aerospace painting in 1910.1026(f)(1)(ii).

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(e)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(2) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(e)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(v) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(b) "Emergency" · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)

Regulated areas (general industry)

In general industry, wherever exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the PEL, the employer must set up a regulated area. Its boundaries must be marked so that workers know where it starts.

Who may enter

• People authorized by the employer and required by their work duties to be there
• A designated employee representative observing monitoring
• Anyone authorized by the OSH Act or its regulations to be there

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(3)(iii)

Protective clothing: on, off, and never home

Where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) is a hazard, your employer must provide protective clothing and equipment at no cost to you, and make sure you use it.

• Take it off at the end of the shift or when you finish your chromium (VI) tasks, whichever comes first.
• Leave it at work. Contaminated clothing does not leave the workplace, except with people whose job is to launder, clean, maintain or dispose of it.
• No blowing or shaking dust off clothing or equipment, or any other method that puts chromium (VI) into the air or onto your body.
• Keep street clothes separate. Change rooms must have separate storage for protective clothing and street clothes.

Construction: the same rules are in 29 CFR 1926.1126(g) and (h).

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(1) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(g)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(2)

Washing, eating and cleanup

Wash before you eat

• If chromium (VI) touched your skin, wash your hands and face at the end of the shift and before eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurs, or (general industry) in regulated areas. Do not carry or store those products there either.
• Do not walk into eating areas in protective clothing unless the surface chromium (VI) has been removed by a method that does not spread it into the air or onto you.

Cleanup (general industry)

• Clean contaminated surfaces with a HEPA-filter vacuum or another method that minimizes exposure.
• Dry sweeping, shoveling or brushing only after HEPA vacuuming or other low-exposure methods were tried and did not work.
• No compressed air on chromium (VI) unless a ventilation system captures the dust cloud, or no other method is feasible.
• Contaminated waste and scrap go in sealed, impermeable bags or closed, impermeable containers.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(4)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(5) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(h)(5) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(iii)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(2)(iii)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(3)(i)

Who gets medical surveillance, and when

Your employer must make medical surveillance available at no cost to you, at a reasonable time and place, if you:

• Are or may be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year
• Have signs or symptoms of health effects linked to chromium (VI)
• Were exposed in an emergency

When exams happen

• Within 30 days after initial assignment, unless you had a qualifying chromium (VI) exam in the last twelve months
• Annually
• Within 30 days after the health care professional's written medical opinion recommends an additional examination
• Whenever you show signs or symptoms
• Within 30 days after exposure in an emergency with an uncontrolled release
• When your employment ends, unless your last qualifying exam was less than six months before

The exam includes a physical examination of your skin and respiratory tract. You get a copy of the health care professional's written opinion within two weeks after your employer receives it.

Construction: the same rules are in 29 CFR 1926.1126(i).

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(v) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(vi) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(5)(iii) · 29 CFR 1926.1126(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(C) · 29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(2)(iii)