Small Entity Compliance Guide for

the Hexavalent Chromium Standards

www.osha.gov

OSHA 3320-10N 2006
Employers are responsible for providing a safe and

healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s

role is to assure the safety and health of America’s

employees by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing

partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. 

This handbook provides a general overview of a particular topic related to OSHA standards. It does not

alter or determine compliance responsibilities in

OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and

Health Act of 1970. Because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, you should

consult current OSHA administrative interpretations

and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health

Review Commission and the Courts for additional

guidance on OSHA compliance requirements.

This publication is in the public domain and may be

reproduced, fully or partially, without permission.

Source credit is requested but not required.

This information is available to sensory impaired

individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-

1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.
Small Entity Compliance Guide

for the

Hexavalent Chromium Standards

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

OSHA 3320-10N 

2006
Introduction 3

Scope 4

Definitions 5

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 6

Exposure Determination 7

Regulated Areas 9

Methods of Compliance 9

Respiratory Protection 11

Protective Work Clothing 

and Equipment 11

Hygiene Areas and Practices 13

Housekeeping 14

Medical Surveillance 15

Communication of Cr(VI) Hazards 

to Employees 16

Recordkeeping 17

Dates 18

OSHA Assistance 19

Appendix I: 

OSHA Cr(VI) Standards 22

Appendix II: 

Industry Operations or Processes 

Associated with Occupational 

Exposure to Cr(VI) 40

Appendix III: 

A. OSHA Area Offices 47

B. OSHA Regional Offices 52

C. States with Approved Occupational

Safety and Health Plans 53

D. OSHA Consultation Project 

Directory 55

2

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Cover photo: An employee welds a stainless steel

flange using a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding

process (courtesy Bath Iron Works).

Contents
This guide is intended to help small businesses comply with the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration’s (OSHA) Hexavalent Chromium

(Cr(VI)) standards. Employees exposed to Cr(VI) are at

increased risk of developing serious adverse health

effects including lung cancer, asthma and damage to

the nasal passages and skin. This guide describes the

steps that employers are required to take to protect

employees from the hazards associated with exposure

to Cr(VI).

This document provides guidance only, and does

not alter or determine compliance responsibilities,

which are set forth in OSHA standards and the

Occupational Safety and Health Act. This guide does

not replace the official Hexavalent Chromium standards, which are contained in Appendix I of this document. The employer must refer to the appropriate

standard to ensure that they are in compliance.

Moreover, because interpretations and enforcement

policy may change over time, for additional guidance

on OSHA compliance requirements the reader should

consult current administrative interpretations and

decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health

Review Commission and the courts.

In 24 states and two territories, OSHA standards

are enforced by the state agency responsible for the

OSHA-approved State Plan. These states and territories are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,

Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan,

Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New

York, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South

Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands,

Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Connecticut,

New Jersey, New York, and the Virgin Islands operate

OSHA-approved State Plans limited in scope to state

and local government employees. State Plans must

adopt and enforce standards that are either identical

to or at least as effective as the federal standards.

They must also extend the coverage of their standards

to state and local government employees. 

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

The guide is divided into sections that correspond to

the major provisions of the Cr(VI) standards. Each section follows the same organization as the corresponding paragraph of the standards, providing more

detail than the standards to help employers better

understand the requirements. For example, the Scope

section explains which employers are covered by the

standards and describes the exceptions to coverage of

the standards. The employer may consult a section

that is of particular interest, or may proceed through

the sections in sequence to gain a better understanding of the standards in their entirety. A section describing additional OSHA resources available to assist

employers is also included.

The Cr(VI) standards for general industry (29 CFR

1910.1026), shipyards (29 CFR 1915.1026), and construction (29 CFR 1926.1126) are included in Appendix

I. Appendix II presents information on industry operations and processes associated with exposure to

Cr(VI) to assist employers in identifying Cr(VI) exposures in their workplaces. Appendix III contains listings of OSHA Area and Regional offices; the addresses and phone numbers of state agencies that administer OSHA-approved State Plans; and the addresses

and phone numbers of OSHA Consultation Service

offices.

WHERE TO GO FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

For additional assistance in complying with the Cr(VI)

standards, contact the nearest OSHA Area Office. If

you are unable to contact the OSHA Area Office, you

can contact the appropriate OSHA Regional Office

for information or assistance. If you are located in a

state that operates an OSHA-approved State Plan, you

may contact the responsible state agency for information and assistance. See Appendix III for the addresses and phone numbers of these offices.

The OSHA Consultation Service is another important resource for additional assistance. The service is

largely funded by OSHA and is delivered by state

governments using well-trained professional staff.

Primarily intended for smaller businesses, the consultation program is free of charge to employers and is

completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort.

The consultation services do not issue citations or

propose penalties. Additional information on the

OSHA Consultation Service, as well as other sources

of help from OSHA, can be found in the OSHA assistance section of the guide.

Introduction

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

3
Scope

The standards apply to all occupational exposures to

Cr(VI), with only limited exceptions. OSHA has separate

standards for Cr(VI) exposures in general industry, shipyards, and construction. Most of the requirements are

the same for all sectors. Where there are differences,

they will be explained in this guide.

Cr(VI) is present in many different compounds that

have a variety of industrial applications. Examples of

major industrial uses of Cr(VI) compounds include: chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics; chromates added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers,

and other surface coatings; and chromic acid electroplated onto metal parts to provide a decorative or protective

coating. Examples of Cr(VI) compounds include:

• ammonium dichromate ((NH4)2Cr2O7); 

• calcium chromate (CaCrO4);

• chromium trioxide or chromic acid (CrO3); 

• lead chromate (PbCrO4); 

• potassium chromate (K2CrO4); 

• potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7);

• sodium chromate (Na2CrO4);

• strontium chromate (SrCrO4); and

• zinc chromate (ZnCrO4). 

Employers can consult their suppliers or examine

material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to identify Cr(VI)-

containing materials that are present in the workplace.

Cr(VI) can also be formed when performing “hot work”

such as welding on stainless steel, melting chromium

metal, or heating refractory bricks in kilns. In these situations the chromium is not originally hexavalent, but the

high temperatures involved in the process result in oxidation that converts the chromium to a hexavalent state.

Appendix II of this document presents a more extensive

description of the industry operations and processes that

are typically associated with Cr(VI) exposure.

The Cr(VI) standards do not apply in three situations: Exposures that occur in the application of pesticides; exposures to portland cement; and where the

employer has objective data demonstrating that Cr(VI)

concentrations cannot exceed 0.5 micrograms per

cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average

under any expected conditions of use.

APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES

The standards do not cover exposures to Cr(VI) that

occur in the application of pesticides. Some Cr(VI)-containing chemicals, such as chromated copper arsenate

(CCA) and acid copper chromate (ACC), are used for

wood treatment and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as pesticides. OSHA does

not regulate where another federal agency, such as

EPA, enforces occupational safety and health standards.

The exemption pertains only to the application of

pesticides and not to the manufacture of Cr(VI)-containing pesticides, which is covered by the standards.

The use of wood treated with pesticides containing

Cr(VI) is also covered by the standards.

PORTLAND CEMENT

The standards do not cover exposure to Cr(VI) in portland cement. Trace amounts of Cr(VI) are usually present in portland cement. However, the concentration of

Cr(VI) is so low that employee exposures to Cr(VI) from

working with portland cement are typically well below

the action level.

Employers should be aware that other standards

are in place to protect employees exposed to portland

cement. OSHA has a permissible exposure limit for

portland cement (see 29 CFR 1910.1000 for general

industry; 29 CFR 1915.1000 for shipyards; 29 CFR

1926.55 for construction). Appropriate personal protective equipment must be provided and used when working with portland cement (see 29 CFR 1910.132 for general industry; 29 CFR 1915.152 for shipyards; 29 CFR

1926.95 for construction). Adequate washing facilities

must also be provided in all sectors (see 29 CFR

1910.141(d) for general industry and shipyards; 29 CFR

1926.51(f) for construction). In addition, OSHA’s Hazard

Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires

training for all employees potentially exposed to hazardous chemicals, including portland cement.

WHERE EXPOSURES CANNOT EXCEED 0.5 μg/m3

An exemption from the standards is provided for

employers who have objective data demonstrating

that a material containing chromium or a specific

process, operation, or activity involving chromium

cannot release dusts, fumes, or mists of Cr(VI) in concentrations at or above 0.5 micrograms per cubic

meter of air (0.5 μg/m3

) as an 8-hour time-weighted

average (TWA) under any expected conditions of use.

When using the phrase “any expected conditions of

use,” OSHA is referring to any situation that can reasonably be foreseen by the employer. The meaning of

the term “objective data” is discussed in the following

section.

This exception for situations where exposures are

not likely to present significant risk to employees

allows employers to focus their resources on exposures of greater occupational health concern.

4

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Definitions are included in the standards to describe

the meaning of a number of terms used. Some of

these terms are further explained as follows:

Action level is defined as an airborne concentration of

2.5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic meter of air (2.5

μg/m3

) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average

(TWA) (i.e., employee exposures to Cr(VI) average 2.5

μg/m3 over an eight-hour time period). Exposures at

or above the action level trigger certain requirements

for exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. 

Chromium (VI) [Hexavalent chromium or Cr(VI)]

means chromium with a valence of positive six, in any

form or chemical compound in which it occurs. This

term includes Cr(VI) in all states of matter, in any solution or other mixture, even if it is encapsulated by

another substance. The term also includes Cr(VI)

when it is created by an industrial process, such as

when welding on stainless steel generates Cr(VI)

fume. 

Emergency means any occurrence that results, or is

likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of Cr(VI).

Such an occurrence may be the result of equipment

failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control

equipment. To constitute an emergency, the exposure

must be unexpected and significant. If an incidental

release of Cr(VI) can be controlled at the time of the

release by employees in the immediate release area,

or by maintenance personnel, it is not considered an

emergency. For example, a minor spill that can be

cleaned up by an employee with minimal airborne or

dermal exposure to Cr(VI) would not be considered an

emergency. Instances that do constitute an emergency trigger requirements for medical surveillance

and the use of respiratory protection.

Employee exposure means exposure to Cr(VI) that

would occur if the employee were not using a respirator. Thus, exposure levels should be determined outside of the respirator for those employees wearing a

respirator.

Historical monitoring data is data from Cr(VI) exposure monitoring conducted prior to May 30, 2006 (the

effective date of this Cr(VI) standard). In order for an

employer to rely upon historical data, the data must

have been obtained during work operations conducted under workplace conditions that closely resemble

the processes, types of material, control methods,

work practices, and environmental conditions in the

employer’s current operations. Historical monitoring

data must also comply with confidence and accuracy

requirements specified in the exposure determination

section of the standard.

Objective data means information, other than employee monitoring, that demonstrates the expected

employee exposure to Cr(VI) associated with a particular product or material or a specific process, operation, or activity. Information that can serve as objective data includes, but is not limited to, air monitoring

data from industry-wide surveys; data collected by a

trade association from its members; or calculations

based on the composition or chemical and physical

properties of a material. Use of objective data is discussed in the exposure determination section under

the “performance-oriented” option.

Physician or other licensed health care professional

[PLHCP] is an individual whose legally permitted

scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be

delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of

the particular health care services required by the

medical surveillance provisions of this standard.

Regulated area means an area, demarcated by the

employer, where an employee’s exposure to airborne

concentrations of Cr(VI) exceeds, or can reasonably be

expected to exceed, the PEL. The employer has the

responsibility to determine and demarcate the boundaries of the regulated area. OSHA has not included

requirements for regulated areas in construction or

shipyard workplaces.

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

5

Definitions
6

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

Calculation of Time-Weighted Average Exposures

Both the PEL and the action level are expressed as time-weighted average (TWA) exposures. TWA

measurements account for variable exposure levels over the course of a work shift, averaging periods of higher and lower exposures. The TWA exposure for an 8-hour work shift is computed using a

simple formula: 

TWA = (Ca Ta+Cb Tb+. . .Cn Tn)÷8

Where:

TWA is the time-weighted average exposure for the work shift;

C is the concentration during any period of time (T) where the concentration remains constant; and

T is the duration in hours of the exposure at the concentration (C).

For example, assume that an employee is subject to the following exposure to Cr(VI): 

Two hours exposure at 10 μg/m3

Two hours exposure at 5 μg/m3

Four hours exposure at 1 μg/m3

Substituting this information in the formula, we have:

(2x10 + 2x5 + 4x1)÷8 = 4.25 μg/m3

Since 4.25 μg/m3 is more than 2.5 μg/m3, the action level has been exceeded. However, as 4.25

μg/m3 is less than 5 μg/m3

, the PEL has not been exceeded.

The standards establish an 8-hour time-weighted average exposure limit of 5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic

meter of air (5 μg/m3

). This means that over the course of any 8-hour work shift, the average exposure to Cr(VI)

cannot exceed 5 μg/m3

.
Employers must determine the 8-hour time-weighted

average exposure to Cr(VI) for each employee exposed

to Cr(VI). This assessment allows the employer to

identify and prevent overexposures; collect exposure

data so that proper control methods can be selected;

and evaluate the effectiveness of those methods. An

accurate exposure determination also provides important information concerning occupational Cr(VI) exposures to the physician or other licensed health care

professional who performs medical examinations on

employees. Employers can choose between two

options for performing exposure determinations: a

scheduled monitoring option, or a performance-oriented option. In addition, employers must comply

with certain requirements regarding employee notification of the results of the exposure determination,

accuracy of measurement methods, and observation

of monitoring.

SCHEDULED MONITORING OPTION

Employers who select the scheduled monitoring

option must conduct initial exposure monitoring to

determine employee exposure to Cr(VI). This monitoring is performed by sampling the air within the

employee’s breathing zone. Monitoring must represent the employee’s time-weighted average exposure

to airborne Cr(VI) over an 8-hour workday.

Employers must accurately characterize the exposure to Cr(VI) for each employee. In some cases, this

will entail monitoring all exposed employees. In other

cases, monitoring “representative” employees is sufficient. Representative exposure sampling is permitted

when a number of employees perform essentially the

same job under the same conditions. For such situations, it may be sufficient to monitor a fraction of

these employees in order to obtain data that are

“representative” of the remaining employees.

Representative personal sampling for employees

engaged in similar work involving similar Cr(VI) exposures is achieved by monitoring the employee(s) reasonably expected to have the highest Cr(VI) exposures. For example, this may involve monitoring the

Cr(VI) exposure of the employee closest to an exposure source. This exposure result may then be attributed to the remaining employees in the group.

Monitoring must accurately characterize exposures on

each shift, for each job classification, and in each work

area.

Requirements for periodic monitoring depend on

the results of initial monitoring. If the initial monitoring indicates that employee exposures are below the

action level, no further monitoring is required unless

changes in the workplace may result in new or additional exposures. If the initial monitoring reveals employee exposures to be at or above the action level

but at or below the PEL, the employer must perform

periodic monitoring at least every six months. If the

initial monitoring reveals employee exposures to be

above the PEL, the employer must perform periodic

monitoring at least every three months. 

If periodic monitoring results indicate that employee exposures have fallen below the action level, and

those results are confirmed by consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart, the employer

may discontinue monitoring for those employees

whose exposures are represented by such monitoring. Similarly, after initial monitoring shows exposures above the PEL, if periodic measurements indicate that exposures are at or below the PEL but are at

or above the action level, the employer may reduce

the frequency of the monitoring to at least every six

months.

Employers must perform additional monitoring

when workplace changes may result in new or additional exposures to Cr(VI). These changes include

alterations in the production process, raw materials,

equipment, personnel, work practices, or control

methods used in the workplace. For example, if an

employer has conducted monitoring for an electroplating operation while using fume suppressants, and

the use of fume suppressants is discontinued, then

additional monitoring would be necessary to determine employee exposures under the modified conditions. In addition, there may be other situations which

can result in new or additional exposures to Cr(VI)

which are unique to an employer’s work situation. For

instance, a welder may move from an open, outdoor

location to an enclosed or confined space. Even

though the task performed and materials used may

remain constant, the changed environment could reasonably be expected to result in higher exposures to

Cr(VI). In these special situations, OSHA requires the

employer to perform additional monitoring whenever

the employer has any reason to believe that a change

has occurred which may result in new or additional

exposures to Cr(VI). Additional monitoring is not

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

7

Exposure Determination
required simply because a change has been made, if

the change is not reasonably expected to result in

new or additional exposures to Cr(VI). For example,

monitoring may be conducted in an establishment

when welding was performed on steel with 15%

chromium content. If the establishment switches to a

steel with 10% chromium content without changing

any other aspect of the work operation, then additional exposures to Cr(VI) would not reasonably be

expected, and additional monitoring would not be

required.

PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED OPTION

The performance-oriented option allows the employer

to determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each

employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data (i.e., data obtained from initial and periodic Cr(VI) monitoring), historical monitoring data, or

objective data sufficient to accurately characterize

employee exposure to Cr(VI). This option is intended

to allow employers flexibility in assessing the Cr(VI)

exposures of their employees. Where the employer

elects to follow this option, the exposure determination must be performed prior to the time the work

operation commences and must provide the same

degree of assurance that employee exposures have

been correctly characterized as air monitoring would.

The employer is expected to reevaluate employee

exposures when there is any change in the production

process, raw materials, equipment, personnel, work

practices, or control methods that may result in new

or additional exposures to Cr(VI). 

EMPLOYEE NOTIFICATION

Employers must notify each affected employee if the

exposure determination indicates that their exposure

to Cr(VI) exceeds the PEL. “Affected employees” are

all employees considered to be exposed above the

PEL, including those employees who are not actually

subject to personal monitoring, but who are represented by an employee who is sampled. Affected

employees also include employees whose exposures

have been deemed to be above the PEL on the basis

of historical or objective data. The employer must

either notify each affected employee in writing or

post the determination results in an appropriate location accessible to all affected employees (e.g., a bulletin board accessible to all employees). In addition,

the written notification must describe the corrective

action(s) being taken by the employer to reduce the

employee’s exposure to or below the PEL (e.g., use of

respirators or the engineering controls that will be

implemented).

The general industry standard requires employers

to notify employees within 15 working days from

when monitoring results are received (or when the

exposure determination is made for those following

the performance-oriented option). In construction and

shipyards, employers must notify each affected

employee as soon as possible but not more than 5

working days later. A shorter time period for notification is mandated in construction and shipyards

because of the often short duration of operations and

employment in particular locations in these sectors. 

ACCURACY OF MEASUREMENTS

The standard does not specify a particular method of

sampling and analysis that must be used to measure

employee exposures to Cr(VI). The employer may use

any method as long as it meets certain accuracy

requirements. Many laboratories presently have methods to measure Cr(VI) at the action level with at least

the required degree of accuracy. One example of an

acceptable method of monitoring and analysis is

OSHA method ID215, which is a fully validated analytical method used by OSHA to measure Cr(VI) exposures.

OBSERVATION OF MONITORING

Employers must provide affected employees or their

designated representatives an opportunity to observe

any monitoring of employee exposure to Cr(VI)

required by this standard. When observation of monitoring requires entry into an area where the use of

protective clothing or equipment is required, the

employer must provide the observer with these items,

and assure that the observer uses them and complies

with all other safety and health procedures.

8

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
The Cr(VI) standard for general industry includes

requirements for regulated areas. The purpose of a

regulated area is to ensure that employees are aware

of the presence of Cr(VI) at levels above the PEL, and

to limit Cr(VI) exposure to as few employees as possible by requiring the employer to mark areas where

employee exposure is likely to exceed the PEL and

limit access to these areas to authorized persons. The

standard includes provisions for establishment of regulated areas; demarcation of regulated areas; and

access to regulated areas. The requirements are not

included in the standards for construction or shipyards because they are considered generally impracticable in these environments.

ESTABLISHMENT

Employers must establish regulated areas wherever

an employee’s exposure to Cr(VI) is, or can reasonably

be expected to be, in excess of the PEL. Information

obtained during the exposure determination can be

used along with reasonable judgment to determine

where regulated areas are required, and to establish

the boundaries of regulated areas.

DEMARCATION

Regulated areas must be distinguished from the rest

of the workplace in a manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees of the boundaries of the

regulated area. The standard does not specify how

employers are to demarcate regulated areas. Warning

signs, barricades, lines and textured flooring, or other

methods may be appropriate. Whatever methods are

chosen must effectively warn employees not to enter

the area unless they are authorized, and then only if

they are using proper protective equipment, such as

respirators.

ACCESS

Employers must limit access to regulated areas. The

only individuals allowed access to a regulated area

are:

• Persons authorized by the employer and required

by work duties to be present in the regulated

area (this may include maintenance and repair

personnel, management, quality control engineers, or other personnel if job duties require

their presence in the regulated area);

• Any person entering the area as a designated

representative of employees to observe Cr(VI)

exposure monitoring; or

• Any person authorized by the Occupational

Safety and Health Act or regulations issued

under it to be in a regulated area (e.g., OSHA

enforcement personnel).

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

9

Regulated Areas

Methods of Compliance

Employers must use engineering and work practice

controls as the primary means to reduce and maintain

employee exposures to Cr(VI) to or below the PEL,

unless the employer can demonstrate that such control measures are not feasible. Engineering controls

include:

• Substitution (e.g., using a less toxic material

instead of Cr(VI), or substituting a process that

results in lower exposures for another type of

process that results in higher exposures);

• Isolation (e.g., enclosing the source of exposure,

or placing a barrier between employees and the

source of exposure); and

• Ventilation (e.g., local exhaust systems that capture airborne Cr(VI) near its source and remove

it from the workplace, or general ventilation that

dilutes Cr(VI) concentrations by circulating large

quantities of air – a local exhaust system is generally preferred to dilution ventilation because it

provides a cleaner and healthier work environment).
Work practice controls involve adjustments in the

way a task is performed. In many cases, work practice

controls complement engineering controls in providing employee protection. For example, periodic

inspection and maintenance of control equipment

such as ventilation systems is an important work practice control. Frequently, equipment which is in disrepair will not perform normally. If equipment is routinely inspected, maintained, and repaired or replaced

before failure is likely, there is less chance that hazardous exposures will occur.

Employees must know the way to perform their

job tasks in order to minimize their exposure to Cr(VI)

and to maximize the effectiveness of control measures. For example, if an exhaust hood is designed to

provide local ventilation and an employee performs a

task that generates Cr(VI) aerosols away from the

exhaust hood, the control measure will be of no use.

Good supervision further ensures that proper work

practices are carried out by employees.

Employees’ exposures can also be controlled by

scheduling operations with the highest exposures at

a time when the fewest employees are present. For

example, routine cleanup operations that involve

Cr(VI) releases might be performed at night or at

times when the usual production staff is not present.

If feasible engineering and work practice controls

are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or

below the PEL, the employer must use them to reduce

the exposure to the lowest level achievable. Respirators must then be used to reduce employee exposure

to or below the PEL. The standards require primary

reliance on engineering and work practice controls

because they are generally reliable, provide consistent

protection to a large number of employees, can be

monitored, and can efficiently remove Cr(VI) from the

workplace. Although an important method of protecting employees, effective use of respirators is more

difficult to achieve. Use of respirators in the workplace also presents other safety and health concerns

due to the physiological burdens on employees using

respirators, and limitations on auditory, visual, and

odor sensations.

There are two exceptions to the general requirement for primary use of engineering and work practice

controls to reduce employee exposure to within permissible limits. The first exception applies to the painting of aircraft or large aircraft parts (e.g., the interior or

exterior of whole aircraft, aircraft wings or tail sections,

or comparably sized aircraft parts) in the aerospace

industry. When such painting is performed, the

employer must use engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee Cr(VI) exposures to or below

25 μg/m3 unless the employer can demonstrate that

such controls are not feasible. Use of respirators is then

required to limit exposures to or below the PEL.

The second exception to the general requirement

for primary reliance on engineering and work practice

controls applies where employers do not have

employee exposures above the PEL for 30 or more

days per year (12 consecutive months) from a particular process or task. Thus, if a particular process or task

results in employee exposures to Cr(VI) that exceed

the PEL on 29 or fewer days during any 12 consecutive months, the employer is allowed to use any combination of controls, including respirators alone, to

achieve the PEL. The burden of proof is on the

employer to demonstrate that a process or task will

not cause employee exposures to remain above the

PEL for 30 or more days per year. Historical data,

objective data, or exposure monitoring data may be

used for this purpose. Other information, such as production orders showing that processes involving

Cr(VI) exposures are conducted on fewer than 30 days

per year, may also be used.

Employers are not permitted to rotate employees

to different jobs as a means of achieving compliance

with the PEL. However, there is no general prohibition

on employee rotation. Employers may rotate employees for other reasons, such as to provide cross-training on different tasks or to allow employees to alternate physically demanding tasks with less strenuous

activities. 

10

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
When engineering and work practice controls cannot

reduce employee exposure to Cr(VI) to within the PEL,

employers must provide employees with respirators.

Specifically, respirators are required during:

• Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls;

• Work operations, such as maintenance and

repair activities, for which engineering and work

practice controls are not feasible;

• Work operations for which an employer has

implemented all feasible engineering and work

practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the PEL; 

• Work operations where employees are exposed

above the PEL for fewer than 30 days per year,

and the employer has elected not to implement

engineering and work practice controls to

achieve the PEL; or

• Emergencies (i.e., uncontrolled releases of Cr(VI)

that result in significant and unexpected exposures; see definition of “Emergency” at pg. 5).

Where respirator use is required, the employer

must establish a respiratory protection program in

accordance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). The respiratory protection

program addresses procedures for properly selecting

and using respirators in the workplace. OSHA has prepared a separate Small Entity Compliance Guide for

the Respiratory Protection standard (available at

http://www.osha.gov/pls/publications/pubindex.list#

118) which provides additional information on the

requirements of that standard.

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

11

Respiratory Protection

Employers must provide appropriate protective clothing and equipment wherever skin or eye contact with

Cr(VI) is likely to present a hazard to employees. The

employer is also required to ensure that employees

use the clothing and equipment provided, and follow

a number of specified practices to ensure that protective clothing and equipment is used and handled in a

manner that is protective of employee health.

Protective work clothing and equipment is only

that clothing and equipment that serves to protect

employees from Cr(VI) hazards. Other clothing, work

uniforms, tools or other apparatus that do not serve to

protect employees from Cr(VI) hazards are not considered protective clothing and equipment under the

standards.

PROVISION AND USE

In order to provide appropriate protective work clothing and equipment, the employer should assess the

workplace to identify areas where a hazard is present

or is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with

Cr(VI). The employer should exercise common sense

and use appropriate expertise in assessing hazards. A

walk-through survey of the workplace is recommended to identify sources of employee Cr(VI) exposure. A

review of workplace injury and illness records is also

recommended. Information obtained during this

process provides a basis for evaluating potential hazards. Exposures must be evaluated on a case-by-case

basis, taking into account factors such as the acidity

or alkalinity of the Cr(VI)-containing compound or

mixture as well as the magnitude and duration of

exposure. 

Where a hazard is identified, the employer must

select the clothing and equipment needed to protect

employees from Cr(VI) hazards. The type of protective

clothing and equipment needed to protect employees

from Cr(VI) hazards will depend on the potential for

exposure and the conditions of use in the workplace.

Examples of protective clothing and equipment that

may be necessary include, but are not limited to,

gloves, aprons, coveralls, foot coverings, and goggles.

The employer must exercise reasonable judgment

in selecting the appropriate clothing and equipment to

use to protect employees from hazards associated

with Cr(VI) exposures. In some instances gloves may

be all that is necessary to effectively protect an

employee from hazardous Cr(VI) exposure. In other

situations, such as when an employee is performing

abrasive blasting on a structure covered with Cr(VI)-

Protective Work Clothing and Equipment
containing paint, more extensive measures such as

coveralls, head coverings, and goggles may be needed. The chemical and physical properties of the compound or mixture may also influence the choice of

clothing and equipment to use. For example, a

chrome plater may require an apron, gloves, and goggles to protect against possible splashes of chromic

acid that could result in both Cr(VI) exposure and

chemical burns. Other factors such as the size, flexibility, and cut and tear resistance of clothing and equipment should be considered in the selection process as

well.

OSHA has issued a booklet, Personal Protective

Equipment (OSHA Publication 3151, available at

http://www. osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.pdf), that

provides more information on assessment of workplace hazards and selection of appropriate protective

clothing and equipment, as well as other factors related to the use of these items. 

Employers must provide the clothing and equipment at no cost to the employee. Where protective

clothing and equipment is required, the employer

must ensure that it is used in the workplace.

REMOVAL AND STORAGE

The employer must ensure that employees remove

protective clothing and equipment that has become

contaminated with Cr(VI) at the end of their work shift

or when they complete their tasks involving Cr(VI)

exposure, whichever comes first. For example, if

employees perform work tasks involving Cr(VI) exposure for the first two hours of a shift, and then perform tasks that do not involve Cr(VI) exposure for the

remainder of the shift, they must remove their protective clothing after the exposure period (in this case,

after the first two hours of the shift). If, however,

employees are performing tasks involving Cr(VI) exposure intermittently throughout the day, or if employees are exposed to other contaminants where protective clothing and equipment are needed, they may

wear the clothing and equipment until the completion

of their shift. This requirement is intended to limit the

duration of employees’ exposure, and to prevent contamination from Cr(VI) residues on protective clothing

reaching areas of the workplace where exposures

would not otherwise occur.

The employer must not allow any employee to

remove contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for those employees

whose job it is to launder, clean, maintain, or dispose

of the clothing or equipment. This requirement is

intended to ensure that clothing contaminated with

Cr(VI) is not carried to employees’ cars and homes,

which would increase the employee’s exposure as

well as exposing other individuals to Cr(VI) hazards.

When contaminated protective clothing or equipment is removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, it must be stored and transported

in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers. Bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing or equipment that are removed

for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal

must be labeled in accordance with the requirements

of OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR

1910.1200). In general, the Hazard Communication

standard requires that each container of hazardous

chemicals leaving the workplace include a label that

indicates the identity of the hazardous chemicals in

the container, appropriate hazard warnings, and the

name and address of a responsible party who can

provide additional information on the hazardous

chemicals. Use of impermeable containers and proper

labeling practices serve to minimize contamination of

the workplace and ensure that employees who later

handle these items are protected.

CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT

The employer must clean, launder, repair and replace

protective clothing and equipment as necessary to

ensure that the effectiveness of the clothing and

equipment is maintained. This requirement is intended to ensure that clothing and equipment continues to

serve its intended purpose of protecting employees.

The standards do not specify how often clothing and

equipment must be cleaned, repaired, or replaced.

The appropriate time intervals may vary widely based

on the types of clothing and equipment used, Cr(VI)

exposures, and other circumstances in the workplace.

The obligation of the employer is to keep the clothing

and equipment in the condition necessary to perform

its protective functions.

Removal of Cr(VI) from protective clothing and

equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means

that disperses Cr(VI) into the air or onto an employee’s body is prohibited. Such actions would result in

increased risk to employees from unnecessary exposure to airborne Cr(VI) as well as possible skin contact.

The employer must inform any person who launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment con12

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
taminated with Cr(VI) of the potentially harmful effects

of Cr(VI) exposure, and that the clothing and equipment should be laundered or cleaned in a manner

that minimizes skin or eye contact with Cr(VI) and prevents exposure to Cr(VI) in excess of the PEL. This

requirement is intended to ensure that employees

who clean or launder Cr(VI)-contaminated items are

aware of the associated hazards so that they can take

appropriate protective measures. The hazard warnings required on labels for containers of Cr(VI)-contaminated clothing and equipment, required by

OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard, are sufficient to indicate the potentially harmful effects of

Cr(VI). An additional statement (i.e., a statement indicating that the clothing and equipment should be handled in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact

with Cr(VI) and effectively prevents exposure to Cr(VI)

in excess of the PEL) could be added to the label to

fulfill this requirement. The employer is not expected

to specify particular work practices that must be followed to achieve these objectives.

The employer is responsible for ensuring that protective work clothes and equipment are cleaned and

properly disposed of. The employer should also conduct inspections and, when necessary, repair or

replace protective work clothing and equipment to

ensure its effectiveness. 

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Employers must provide adequate hygiene facilities

and ensure that employees comply with basic

hygiene practices that serve to minimize exposure 

to Cr(VI). The standards include requirements for

change rooms and washing facilities, ensuring that

Cr(VI) exposure in eating and drinking areas is minimized, and a prohibition on certain practices that

may contribute to Cr(VI) exposure.

CHANGE ROOMS

Where employees must change out of their street

clothes to use protective clothing and equipment

required by the standard, change rooms must be

provided. The change rooms must be equipped with

separate storage facilities (e.g., lockers) for protective clothing and equipment and for street clothes,

and these facilities must prevent contamination of

street clothes. Preventing contamination of street

clothing limits exposures that would otherwise occur

after the work shift ends, and avoids potential contamination of employees’ cars and homes. Change

rooms also provide privacy to employees while they

change their clothes.

Change rooms are only required where removal

of street clothes is necessary. For example, in a

workplace where gloves are the only protective

clothing used, change rooms are not necessary.

Similarly, if disposable protective clothing can be

effectively worn over street clothes, change rooms

would not be required.

WASHING FACILITIES

Readily accessible washing facilities capable of

removing Cr(VI) from the skin must be provided

where skin contact with Cr(VI) occurs. Washing facilities must conform with OSHA’s existing sanitation

requirements (29 CFR 1910.141 for general industry;

29 CFR 1926.51 for construction). The employer must

ensure that affected employees use these facilities

when necessary. Also, the employer must ensure

that employees who have skin contact with Cr(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. Washing diminishes the period of time that

Cr(VI) is in contact with the skin, removes any residual Cr(VI) contamination, and protects against further

exposure.

EATING AND DRINKING AREAS

Whenever an employer allows employees to consume food or beverages at a worksite where Cr(VI) is

present, the employer must ensure that eating and

drinking areas and surfaces are maintained as free

as practicable of Cr(VI). Employers are also required

to ensure that employees do not enter eating and

drinking areas wearing Cr(VI)-contaminated protective clothing or equipment, unless the protective

clothing or equipment is properly cleaned beforehand. The employer may use any method to remove

surface Cr(VI) from clothing and equipment, as long

Hygiene Areas and Practices
as that method does not disperse Cr(VI) into the air

or onto an employee’s body. For example, a HEPAfiltered vacuum may be used to remove Cr(VI) 

contamination from an employee’s clothing

prior to entering the eating and drinking area.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

The standards prohibit certain activities that are likely to result in unnecessary Cr(VI) exposures. The

employer must 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 Cr(VI) occurs. Products associated

with these activities, such as food or cigarettes, must

not be carried into or stored in regulated areas or

areas where skin or eye contact with Cr(VI) occurs.

14

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

The Cr(VI) standard for general industry includes

requirements for housekeeping measures. Proper

housekeeping measures are important, where practicable, because they minimize additional sources of

exposure to Cr(VI) that engineering controls are generally not designed to address. The standard includes

provisions addressing general housekeeping requirements; cleaning methods; and disposal of materials

contaminated with Cr(VI). These requirements are

not included in the standards for construction or

shipyards because they are considered generally

impracticable in these environments.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Employers must ensure that:

• All surfaces are maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of Cr(VI); and

• All spills and releases of Cr(VI)-containing

material are cleaned up promptly.

Cr(VI) deposited on ledges, equipment, floors,

and other surfaces should be removed as soon as

practicable to prevent it from becoming airborne and

to minimize the likelihood that skin contact will

occur. Spills should be rapidly contained and cleaned

up without delay.

CLEANING METHODS

Surfaces contaminated with Cr(VI) must be cleaned

by HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that

minimize exposure to Cr(VI). Other acceptable cleaning methods include wet methods, such as wet

sweeping or wet scrubbing. Dry methods (e.g., dry

shoveling, dry sweeping, and dry brushing) are generally prohibited because of the potential for dispersal of Cr(VI) into the air. Employers are only allowed

to use dry methods in cases where HEPA-filtered

vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure to Cr(VI) have been tried and

found not to be effective. 

Use of compressed air for cleaning surfaces is

also generally inappropriate because of the potential

for dispersal of Cr(VI) into the air. Compressed air

must not be used for cleaning surfaces unless it is

used in conjunction with a ventilation system designed to capture the dust cloud, or if no alternative

method is feasible. 

Cleaning equipment must be handled in a manner that minimizes the reentry of Cr(VI) into the

workplace. HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment must be

cleaned and maintained carefully to avoid unnecessary exposures to Cr(VI). Filters must be changed

when needed, and the contents of the bags must be

disposed of properly to avoid unnecessary Cr(VI)

exposures. 

DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS

Waste, scrap, debris, and any other materials contaminated with Cr(VI) that are consigned for disposal

must be disposed of in sealed, impermeable bags or

other closed, impermeable containers. For example,

the employer may wrap a pallet in plastic to create

an impermeable barrier between employees and the

Cr(VI) contaminated waste, scrap or debris. Another

example would be to use a sealed barrel. Bags or

containers of waste, scrap, debris, and any other

materials contaminated with Cr(VI) that are consigned for disposal must be labeled in accordance

with the requirements of OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). 

Housekeeping
The intent of medical surveillance is to determine,

where reasonably possible, if an individual can be

exposed to the Cr(VI) present in his or her workplace

without experiencing adverse health effects; to identify Cr(VI)-related adverse health effects when they do

occur so that appropriate intervention measures can

be taken; and to determine an employee’s fitness to

use personal protective equipment such as respirators. The standards specify which employees must be

offered medical surveillance; when medical examinations must be offered; the contents of the examination; information that the employer must provide to

the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) who performs the examination; and the

contents of the written medical opinion that the

employer must obtain from the PLHCP. 

All medical examinations and procedures required

by the standards must be performed by or under the

supervision of a PLHCP. Medical surveillance must be

provided at no cost to employees, and at a reasonable

time and place. If participation requires travel away

from the worksite, the employer must bear the cost.

Employees must be paid for time spent taking medical examinations, including travel time. 

EMPLOYEES PROVIDED MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE

Medical surveillance must be provided to employees

who are:

• Exposed to Cr(VI) at or above the action level

(2.5 μg/m3 Cr(VI) as an 8-hour time-weighted

average) for 30 or more days a year;

• Experiencing signs or symptoms of the adverse

health effects associated with Cr(VI) exposure

(e.g., blistering lesions, redness or itchiness of

exposed skin, shortness of breath or wheezing

that worsens at work, nosebleeds, a whistling

sound while inhaling or exhaling); or

• Exposed in an emergency (i.e., an uncontrolled

release of Cr(VI) that results in significant and

unexpected exposures; see definition of

“Emergency” at pg. 5).

FREQUENCY OF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

Medical examinations must be provided:

• Within 30 days after initial assignment to a job

involving Cr(VI) exposure, unless the employee

has received an examination that meets the

requirements of the standard within the last 12

months; 

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

15

• Annually; 

• Within 30 days after a PLHCP’s written medical

opinion recommends an additional examination;

• Whenever an employee shows signs or symptoms of the adverse health effects associated

with Cr(VI) exposure;

• Within 30 days after exposure during an emergency which results in an uncontrolled release

of Cr(VI); or

• At the termination of employment, unless the

last examination provided was less than six

months prior to the date of termination.

CONTENTS OF THE EXAMINATION

A medical examination provided under the standard

consists of:

• A medical and work history which focuses on:

the employee’s past, present, and anticipated

future exposure to Cr(VI); any history of respiratory system dysfunction; any history of asthma,

dermatitis, skin ulceration, or nasal septum perforation; and smoking status and history;

• A physical examination of the skin and respiratory tract; and

• Any additional tests that the examining PLHCP

considers to be appropriate for that individual.

The standards do not specify specific tests or 

procedures that must be provided to all employees.

Rather, the information obtained from the medical

and work history along with the physical examination

of the skin and respiratory tract (the main targets of

Cr(VI) toxicity) allow the PLHCPs to use their medical

expertise to determine what tests, if any, are warranted.

INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE PLHCP

The employer must ensure that the PLHCP has a copy

of the Cr(VI) standard, and must provide the PLHCP

with:

• A description of the affected employee’s former,

current, and anticipated duties as they relate to

Cr(VI) exposure;

• Information on the employee’s former, current,

and anticipated Cr(VI) exposure levels;

• A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used by the employee, including when and for how long the employee

has used that equipment; and

Medical Surveillance
• Information from records of employment-related

medical examinations previously provided to

the affected employee.

THE WRITTEN MEDICAL OPINION

The employer must obtain a written medical opinion

from the PLHCP for each medical examination performed. The written medical opinion must be obtained within 30 days of the examination, and must

contain:

• The PLHCP’s opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that

would place the employee at increased risk of

material impairment to health from further

exposure to Cr(VI);

16

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

• Any recommended limitations on the employee’s exposure to Cr(VI) or on the use of personal

protective equipment such as respirators; and

• A statement that the PLHCP has explained to the

employee the results of the medical examination, including any medical conditions related to

Cr(VI) exposure that require further evaluation

or treatment, and any special provisions for use

of protective clothing or equipment.

The PLHCP must not reveal to the employer any

specific findings or diagnoses that are not related to

workplace Cr(VI) exposure. The employer is required

to provide a copy of the written medical opinion to

the examined employee within two weeks after receiving it.

To protect against illnesses and injuries from Cr(VI)

exposures, it is critically important that employees

recognize the hazards associated with exposure to

Cr(VI) and understand the measures they can take to

protect themselves. OSHA’s Hazard Communication

standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) establishes requirements

for employers to provide employees with information

on hazardous chemicals such as Cr(VI) through comprehensive chemical hazard communication programs

that include material safety data sheets (MSDSs),

labels, and employee training. Employers must follow

the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard with regard to employees exposed to Cr(VI).

These requirements include informing employees of

any operations in their work area where Cr(VI) is present and training employees on:

• The methods that may be used to detect Cr(VI)

in the work area:

• The hazards of Cr(VI); and

• Measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards (e.g., appropriate

work practices, emergency procedures, and protective equipment to be used).

In addition, the Cr(VI) standards require the employer to provide information and training sufficient to

ensure that employees exposed to Cr(VI) can demonstrate knowledge of:

• The requirements of the Cr(VI) standard; and

• The medical surveillance program required by

the standard, including recognition of the signs

and symptoms of adverse health effects that

may result from Cr(VI) exposure.

The employer must also make a copy of the Cr(VI)

standard available without cost to all affected employees.

The standards do not specify how training is to be

provided. Classroom instruction, video presentations,

informal discussions, written materials, or other methods may be appropriate. The employer may select

whatever methods are most effective in a specific

workplace. Similarly, the standards do not require

employers to provide additional training at periodic

intervals. Training must be provided as often as is

necessary to ensure that employees are aware of the

Cr(VI) hazards in their workplace and understand the

protective measures available to them.

Communication of Cr(VI) Hazards to Employees
Accurate records can demonstrate employer compliance with the standard, and can assist in diagnosing

and identifying workplace-related illnesses. Therefore,

employers are required to maintain records of employee Cr(VI) exposures (including air monitoring

data, historical monitoring data, and objective data) as

well as records of medical surveillance provided under the standard.

AIR MONITORING DATA

Employers must keep an accurate record of all air

monitoring performed to comply with the standard.

The record must indicate:

• The date of the measurement for each sample

taken; 

• The operation involving exposure to Cr(VI) that

was monitored;

• Sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

• The number, duration, and results of samples

taken;

• The type of personal protective equipment used

(e.g., type of respirators worn); and

• The name, social security number, and job classification of all employees represented by the

monitoring, specifying which employees were

actually monitored. 

HISTORICAL MONITORING DATA

When an employer relies on historical monitoring

data to determine employee exposures to Cr(VI), an

accurate record of the historical monitoring data must

be maintained. The record must show:

• That the data were collected using methods that

meet the accuracy requirements of the standard

(i.e., the method of monitoring and analysis

used must measure Cr(VI) to within an accuracy

of ± 25% and to within a statistical confidence

level of 95%); 

• That the processes and work practices, the characteristics of the Cr(VI)-containing material

being handled, and the environmental conditions at the time the data were obtained are the

same as those on the job for which exposure is

being determined; and 

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

17

• Any other data relevant to the operations, materials, processing, and employee exposures. 

OBJECTIVE DATA

When an employer relies on objective data to comply

with the Cr(VI) standard, an accurate record of the

objective data must be maintained. The record must

indicate:

• The chromium-containing material in question;

• The source of the objective data;

• The testing protocol and results of testing, or

analysis of the material for the release of Cr(VI);

• A description of the process, operation, or activity and how the data support the determination;

and

• Any other data relevant to the process, operation, activity, material, or employee exposures.

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

The employer must maintain an accurate record for

each employee provided medical surveillance under

the standard. The record must include the following

information about the employee:

• Name and social security number;

• A copy of the PLHCP’s written opinions; and

• A copy of the information that the employer was

required to provide to the PLHCP (i.e., a description of the employee’s duties as they relate to

occupational Cr(VI) exposure; the employee’s

Cr(VI) exposure levels; a description of the personal protective equipment used by the employee; and information from previous employmentrelated medical examinations).

Exposure and medical records must be maintained

and made available to employees and their representatives. A separate OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.1020,

Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records)

addresses requirements for maintaining these records. In general, exposure records must be kept for at

least 30 years, and medical records must be kept for

the duration of employment plus 30 years. It is necessary to keep these records for extended periods

because cancer often cannot be detected until 20 or

more years after exposure, and exposure and medical

records can assist in diagnosing and identifying the

cause of disease.

Recordkeeping
Employers with 20 or more employees must comply

with the requirements of the standards (except the

requirements for use of engineering controls) by

November 27, 2006. Employers with 19 or fewer

employees must comply with the requirements of the

standards (except the requirements for use of engineering controls) by May 30, 2007. During the time

prior to these compliance dates, employers should

take steps to ensure that they are able to meet the

requirements of the standards by the start-up dates.

Initial exposure assessments should be completed,

respiratory protection programs should be established

where necessary, appropriate respirators should be

obtained, regulated areas should be established

where required, appropriate protective work clothing

and equipment should be acquired, arrangements

should be made for provision of medical surveillance,

and other measures necessary to comply with the

provisions of the standards should be taken. All

requirements of the standards (except those for engineering controls) will be enforced as of the specified

dates.

Engineering controls required by the standards

must be in place by May 31, 2010. This date applies to

all employers, regardless of size. This additional time

for implementation of engineering controls is allotted

to allow sufficient time for the process of designing,

obtaining, and installing equipment and adopting new

work methods. 

Dates

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Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

19

OSHA Assistance

OSHA can provide extensive help through a variety of

programs, including technical assistance about effective safety and health programs, state plans, workplace consultations, voluntary protection programs,

strategic partnerships, training and education, and

more. An overall commitment to workplace safety and

health can add value to your business, to your workplace and to your life.

SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM

MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

Effective management of employee safety and health

protection is a decisive factor in reducing the extent

and severity of work-related injuries and illnesses and

their related costs. In fact, an effective safety and

health program forms the basis of good employee protection and can save time and money (about $4 for

every dollar spent) and increase productivity and

reduce employee injuries, illnesses and related workers’ compensation costs.

To assist employers and employees in developing

effective safety and health programs, OSHA published

recommended Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines (54 Federal Register (16): 3904-3916,

January 26, 1989). These voluntary guidelines apply

to all places of employment covered by OSHA.

The guidelines identify four general elements critical to the development of a successful safety and

health management program:

■ Management leadership and employee involvement.

■ Work analysis.

■ Hazard prevention and control.

■ Safety and health training.

The guidelines recommend specific actions, under

each of these general elements, to achieve an effective

safety and health program. The Federal Register

notice is available online at www.osha.gov 

STATE PROGRAMS

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH

Act) encourages states to develop and operate their

own job safety and health plans. OSHA approves and

monitors these plans. Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico

and the Virgin Islands currently operate approved state

plans: 22 cover both private and public (state and local

government) employment; the Connecticut, New

Jersey, New York and Virgin Islands plans cover the

public sector only. States and territories with their own

OSHA-approved occupational safety and health plans

must adopt standards identical to, or at least as effective as, the Federal standards. 

CONSULTATION SERVICES

Consultation assistance is available on request to

employers who want help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful workplace. Largely funded

by OSHA, the service is provided at no cost to the

employer. Primarily developed for smaller employers

with more hazardous operations, the consultation

service is delivered by state governments employing

professional safety and health consultants. Comprehensive assistance includes an appraisal of all mechanical systems, work practices and occupational

safety and health hazards of the workplace and all

aspects of the employer’s present job safety and health

program. In addition, the service offers assistance to

employers in developing and implementing an effective safety and health program. No penalties are proposed or citations issued for hazards identified by the

consultant. OSHA provides consultation assistance to

the employer with the assurance that his or her name

and firm and any information about the workplace will

not be routinely reported to OSHA enforcement staff.

Under the consultation program, certain exemplary

employers may request participation in OSHA’s Safety

and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

Eligibility for participation in SHARP includes receiving

a comprehensive consultation visit, demonstrating

exemplary achievements in workplace safety and

health by abating all identified hazards and developing

an excellent safety and health program.

Employers accepted into SHARP may receive an

exemption from programmed inspections (not complaint or accident investigation inspections) for a period of one year. For more information concerning consultation assistance, see the OSHA website at

www.osha.gov

VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS (VPP)

Voluntary Protection Programs and on-site consultation services, when coupled with an effective enforcement program, expand employee protection to

help meet the goals of the OSH Act. The three levels

of VPP are Star, Merit, and Demonstration designed to
recognize outstanding achievements by companies

that have successfully incorporated comprehensive

safety and health programs into their total management system. The VPPs motivate others to achieve

excellent safety and health results in the same outstanding way as they establish a cooperative relationship between employers, employees and OSHA.

For additional information on VPP and how to

apply, contact the OSHA regional offices listed in

Appendix III. B.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the newest

member of OSHA’s cooperative programs, helps encourage, assist and recognize the efforts of partners to

eliminate serious workplace hazards and achieve a

high level of employee safety and health. Whereas

OSHA’s Consultation Program and VPP entail one-onone relationships between OSHA and individual worksites, most strategic partnerships seek to have a broader impact by building cooperative relationships with

groups of employers and employees. These partnerships are voluntary, cooperative relationships between

OSHA, employers, employee representatives and others (e.g., trade unions, trade and professional associations, universities and other government agencies). 

For more information on this and other cooperative

programs, contact your nearest OSHA office, or visit

OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov

ALLIANCE PROGRAMS

The Alliance Program enables organizations committed to workplace safety and health to collaborate

with OSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in the

workplace. OSHA and the Alliance participants work

together to reach out to, educate and lead the

nation’s employers and their employees in improving and advancing workplace safety and health. 

Groups that can form an Alliance with OSHA include employers, labor unions, trade or professional

groups, educational institutions and government agencies. In some cases, organizations may be building on

existing relationships with OSHA that were developed

through other cooperative programs. 

There are few formal program requirements for

Alliances and the agreements do not include an enforcement component. However, OSHA and the participating organizations must define, implement and meet

a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three

categories: training and education; outreach and communication; and promoting the national dialogue on

workplace safety and health. 

OSHA TRAINING AND EDUCATION

OSHA area offices offer a variety of information services, such as compliance assistance, technical advice,

publications, audiovisual aids and speakers for special

engagements. OSHA’s Training Institute in Arlington

Heights, IL, provides basic and advanced courses in

safety and health for Federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, Federal agency personnel, and

private sector employers, employees and their representatives.

The OSHA Training Institute also has established

OSHA Training Institute Education Centers to address

the increased demand for its courses from the private

sector and from other Federal agencies. These centers

are nonprofit colleges, universities and other organizations that have been selected after a competition for

participation in the program.

OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations, through grants, to conduct workplace training

and education in subjects where OSHA believes there

is a lack of workplace training. Grants are awarded

annually. Grant recipients are expected to contribute

20 percent of the total grant cost.

For more information on grants, training and education, contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office of

Training and Education, 2020 South Arlington Heights

Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, (847) 297-4810 or

see “Outreach” on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

For further information on any OSHA program, contact

your nearest OSHA area or regional office listed at the

end of this publication.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

OSHA has a variety of materials and tools available on

its website at www.osha.gov. These include e-Tools

such as Expert Advisors, Electronic Compliance

Assistance Tools (e-cats), Technical Links; regulations,

directives and publications; videos and other information for employers and employees. OSHA’s software

programs and compliance assistance tools walk you

through challenging safety and health issues and common problems to find the best solutions for your workplace.

20

Occupational Safety and 

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A wide variety of OSHA materials, including standards, interpretations, directives, and more, can be

purchased on CD-ROM from the U.S. Government

Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, phone

toll-free (866) 512-1800.

OSHA PUBLICATIONS

OSHA has an extensive publications program. For a

listing of free or sales items, visit OSHA’s website at

www.osha.gov or contact the OSHA Publications

Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, N-3101, Washington, DC 20210.

Telephone (202) 693-1888 or fax to (202) 693-2498. 

CONTACTING OSHA

To report an emergency, file a complaint or seek OSHA

advice, assistance or products, call (800) 321-OSHA or

contact your nearest OSHA regional or area office listed in Appendix III. The teletypewriter (TTY) number is

(877) 889-5627.

You can also file a complaint online and obtain

more information on OSHA Federal and state programs by visiting OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

21
GENERAL INDUSTRY STANDARD

§1910.1026 Chromium (VI)

(a) SCOPE.

(1) This standard applies to occupational exposures to chromium (VI) in all forms and compounds in

general industry, except:

(2) Exposures that occur in the application of pesticides regulated by the Environmental Protection

Agency or another Federal government agency (e.g.,

the treatment of wood with preservatives);

(3) Exposures to portland cement; or

(4) Where the employer has objective data demonstrating that a material containing chromium or a specific process, operation, or activity involving chromium

cannot release dusts, fumes, or mists of chromium

(VI) in concentrations at or above 0.5 μg/m3 as an 8-

hour time-weighted average (TWA) under any expected conditions of use.

(b) DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:

Action level means a concentration of airborne

chromium (VI) of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of

air (2.5 μg/m3

) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted

average (TWA).

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary

of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.

Department of Labor, or designee.

Chromium (VI) [hexavalent chromium or Cr(VI)]

means chromium with a valence of positive six, in any

form and in any compound. 

Director means the Director of the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or

designee.

Emergency means any occurrence that results, or

is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of chromium (VI). If an incidental release of chromium (VI) can

be controlled at the time of release by employees in

the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel, it is not an emergency.

Employee exposure means the exposure to airborne chromium (VI) that would occur if the employee

were not using a respirator. 

High-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filter means a

filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing

mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter or larger.

Historical monitoring data means data from

chromium (VI) monitoring conducted prior to May 30,

2006, obtained during work operations conducted

under workplace conditions closely resembling the

processes, types of material, control methods, work

practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations.

Objective data means information such as air

monitoring data from industry-wide surveys or calculations based on the composition or chemical and

physical properties of a substance demonstrating the

employee exposure to chromium (VI) associated with

a particular product or material or a specific process,

operation, or activity. The data must reflect workplace

conditions closely resembling the processes, types of

material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations.

Physician or other licensed health care professional [PLHCP] is an individual whose legally permitted

scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be

delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of

the particular health care services required by paragraph (k) of this section. 

Regulated area means an area, demarcated by the

employer, where an employee’s exposure to airborne

concentrations of chromium (VI) exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, the PEL. 

This section means this 1910.1026 chromium (VI)

standard. 

(c) PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL).

The employer shall ensure that no employee is

exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium

(VI) in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air

(5 μg/m3

), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).

(d) EXPOSURE DETERMINATION.

(1) General. Each employer who has a workplace

or work operation covered by this section shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee

Appendix I: 

OSHA Cr(VI) Standards

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exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be

made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or

paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

(2) Scheduled monitoring option.

(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.

(ii) If initial monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, the employer

may discontinue monitoring for those employees

whose exposures are represented by such monitoring.

(iii) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be at or above the action level, the employer shall

perform periodic monitoring at least every six

months.

(iv) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be above the PEL, the employer shall perform periodic

monitoring at least every three months.

(v) If periodic monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, and the result is

confirmed by the result of another monitoring taken at

least seven days later, the employer may discontinue

the monitoring for those employees whose exposures

are represented by such monitoring.

(vi) The employer shall perform additional monitoring when there has been any change in the production process, raw materials, equipment, personnel,

work practices, or control methods that may result in

new or additional exposures to chromium (VI), or

when the employer has any reason to believe that

new or additional exposures have occurred.

(3) Performance-oriented option. The employer

shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each

employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data, historical monitoring data, or objective

data sufficient to accurately characterize employee

exposure to chromium (VI).

(4) Employee notification of determination results.

(i) Where the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure exceeds the PEL, within 15

working days the employer shall either post the results in an appropriate location that is accessible to all

affected employees or shall notify each affected

employee individually in writing of the results.

(ii) Whenever the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure is above the PEL, the employer shall describe in the written notification the

corrective action being taken to reduce employee

exposure to or below the PEL.

(5) Accuracy of measurement. Where air monitoring is performed to comply with the requirements of

this section, the employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis that can measure chromium (VI)

to within an accuracy of plus or minus 25 percent (+/-

25%) and can produce accurate measurements to

within a statistical confidence level of 95 percent for

airborne concentrations at or above the action level.

(6) Observation of monitoring.

(i) Where air monitoring is performed to comply

with the requirements of this section, the employer

shall provide affected employees or their designated

representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to chromium (VI).

(ii) When observation of monitoring requires entry

into an area where the use of protective clothing or

equipment is required, the employer shall provide the

observer with clothing and equipment and shall

assure that the observer uses such clothing and

equipment and complies with all other applicable

safety and health procedures.

(e) REGULATED AREAS.

(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.

(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.

(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.
(f) METHODS OF COMPLIANCE.

(1) Engineering and work practice controls.

(i) Except as permitted in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) and

paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, the employer shall

use engineering and work practice controls to reduce

and maintain employee exposure to chromium (VI) to

or below the PEL unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever

feasible engineering and work practice controls are

not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or

below the PEL, the employer shall use them to reduce

employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable,

and shall supplement them by the use of respiratory

protection that complies with the requirements of

paragraph (g) of this section.

(ii) Where painting of aircraft or large aircraft parts

is performed in the aerospace industry, the employer

shall use engineering and work practice controls to

reduce and maintain employee exposure to chromium

(VI) to or below 25 μg/m3 unless the employer can

demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. The

employer shall supplement such engineering and

work practice controls with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section to achieve the PEL.

(iii) Where the employer can demonstrate that a

process or task does not result in any employee exposure to chromium (VI) above the PEL for 30 or more

days per year (12 consecutive months), the requirement to implement engineering and work practice

controls to achieve the PEL does not apply to that

process or task.

(2) Prohibition of rotation. The employer shall not

rotate employees to different jobs to achieve compliance with the PEL.

(g) RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.

(1) General. The employer shall provide respiratory

protection for employees during:

(i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls;

(ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities, for which engineering and work practice controls are not feasible;

(iii) Work operations for which an employer has

implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to

reduce exposures to or below the PEL;

(iv) Work operations where employees are exposed above the PEL for fewer than 30 days per year,

and the employer has elected not to implement engineering and work practice controls to achieve the PEL;

or

(v) Emergencies.

(2) Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall

institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.

(h) PROTECTIVE WORK CLOTHING AND 

EQUIPMENT.

(1) Provision and use. Where a hazard is present or

is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with

chromium (VI), the employer shall provide appropriate

personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost

to employees, and shall ensure that employees use

such clothing and equipment.

(2) Removal and storage.

(i) The employer shall ensure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift

or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium

(VI) exposure, whichever comes first.

(ii) The employer shall ensure that no employee

removes chromium (VI)-contaminated protective

clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for

those employees whose job it is to launder, clean,

maintain, or dispose of such clothing or equipment.

(iii) When contaminated protective clothing or

equipment is removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, the employer shall ensure that it

is stored and transported in sealed, impermeable

bags or other closed, impermeable containers.

(iv) Bags or containers of contaminated protective

clothing or equipment that are removed from change

rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or 

disposal shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard,

(29 CFR 1910.1200).

(3) Cleaning and replacement.

(i) The employer shall clean, launder, repair and

replace all protective clothing and equipment required

by this section as needed to maintain its effectiveness.

(ii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of

chromium (VI) from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that

disperses chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee’s body.

(iii) The employer shall inform any person who

launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment

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contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially

harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that

the clothing and equipment should be laundered or

cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the

release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the PEL.

(i) HYGIENE AREAS AND PRACTICES.

(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.

(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 crosscontamination.

(3) Washing facilities.

(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.

(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.

(4) Eating and drinking areas.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(j) HOUSEKEEPING. 

(1) General. The employer shall ensure that:

(i) All surfaces are maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of chromium (VI).

(ii) All spills and releases of chromium (VI) containing material are cleaned up promptly.

(2) Cleaning methods.

(i) The employer shall ensure that surfaces contaminated with chromium (VI) are cleaned by HEPAfilter vacuuming or other methods that minimize the

likelihood of exposure to chromium (VI).

(ii) Dry shoveling, dry sweeping, and dry brushing

may be used only where HEPA-filtered vacuuming or

other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure to chromium (VI) have been tried and found not

to be effective.

(iii) The employer shall not allow compressed air

to be used to remove chromium (VI) from any surface

unless:

(A) The compressed air is used in conjunction with

a ventilation system designed to capture the dust

cloud created by the compressed air; or

(B) No alternative method is feasible.

(iv) The employer shall ensure that cleaning equipment is handled in a manner that minimizes the reentry of chromium (VI) into the workplace.

(3) Disposal. The employer shall ensure that:

(i) Waste, scrap, debris, and any other materials

contaminated with chromium (VI) and consigned for

disposal are collected and disposed of in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers.

(ii) Bags or containers of waste, scrap, debris, and

any other materials contaminated with chromium (VI)

that are consigned for disposal are labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). 

(k) MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE.

(1) General.

(i) The employer shall make medical surveillance

available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for all employees:

(A) Who are or may be occupationally exposed to

chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or

more days a year;

(B) Experiencing signs or symptoms of the adverse

health effects associated with chromium (VI) exposure; or
(C) Exposed in an emergency.

(ii) The employer shall assure that all medical

examinations and procedures required by this section

are performed by or under the supervision of a

PLHCP. 

(2) Frequency. The employer shall provide a medical examination:

(i) Within 30 days after initial assignment, unless

the employee has received a chromium (VI) related

medical examination that meets the requirements of

this paragraph within the last twelve months;

(ii) Annually;

(iii) Within 30 days after a PLHCP’s written medical

opinion recommends an additional examination;

(iv) Whenever an employee shows signs or symptoms of the adverse health effects associated with

chromium (VI) exposure;

(v) Within 30 days after exposure during an emergency which results in an uncontrolled release of

chromium (VI); or

(vi) At the termination of employment, unless the

last examination that satisfied the requirements of

paragraph (k) of this section was less than six months

prior to the date of termination.

(3) Contents of examination. A medical examination consists of:

(i) A medical and work history, with emphasis on:

past, present, and anticipated future exposure to

chromium (VI); any history of respiratory system dysfunction; any history of asthma, dermatitis, skin ulceration, or nasal septum perforation; and smoking status

and history;

(ii) A physical examination of the skin and respiratory tract; and

(iii) Any additional tests deemed appropriate by

the examining PLHCP.

(4) Information provided to the PLHCP. The employer shall ensure that the examining PLHCP has a

copy of this standard, and shall provide the following

information:

(i) A description of the affected employee’s former,

current, and anticipated duties as they relate to the

employee’s occupational exposure to chromium (VI);

(ii) The employee’s former, current, and anticipated

levels of occupational exposure to chromium (VI); 

(iii) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used by the employee, including

when and for how long the employee has used that

equipment; and 

(iv) Information from records of employment-related medical examinations previously provided to the

affected employee, currently within the control of the

employer.

(5) PLHCP’s written medical opinion.

(i) The employer shall obtain a written medical

opinion from the PLHCP, within 30 days for each medical examination performed on each employee, which

contains:

(A) The PLHCP’s opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that

would place the employee at increased risk of

material impairment to health from further exposure to chromium (VI);

(B) Any recommended limitations upon the employee’s exposure to chromium (VI) or upon the

use of personal protective equipment such as respirators;

(C) A statement that the PLHCP has explained to

the employee the results of the medical examination, including any medical conditions related to

chromium (VI) exposure that require further evaluation or treatment, and any special provisions for

use of protective clothing or equipment. 

(ii) The PLHCP shall not reveal to the employer

specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to chromium (VI).

(iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the

PLHCP’s written medical opinion to the examined

employee within two weeks after receiving it.

(l) COMMUNICATION OF CHROMIUM (VI) 

HAZARDS TO EMPLOYEES.

(1) General. In addition to the requirements of the

Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200),

employers shall comply with the following requirements.

(2) Employee information and training.

(i) The employer shall ensure that each employee

can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:

(A) The contents of this section; and

(B) The purpose and a description of the medical

surveillance program required by paragraph (k) of

this section.

(ii) The employer shall make a copy of this section

readily available without cost to all affected employees.

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(m) RECORDKEEPING.

(1) Air monitoring data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all air monitoring conducted to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The date of measurement for each sample taken; 

(B) The operation involving exposure to chromium

(VI) that is being monitored;

(C) Sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

(D) Number, duration, and the results of samples

taken;

(E) Type of personal protective equipment, such as

respirators worn; and

(F) Name, social security number, and job classification of all employees represented by the monitoring, indicating which employees were actually

monitored.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that exposure

records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(2) Historical monitoring data.

(i) Where the employer has relied on historical

monitoring data to determine exposure to chromium

(VI), the employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record of the historical monitoring data relied upon.

(ii) The record shall include information that

reflects the following conditions:

(A) The data were collected using methods that

meet the accuracy requirements of paragraph

(d)(5) of this section;

(B) The processes and work practices that were in

use when the historical monitoring data were

obtained are essentially the same as those to be

used during the job for which exposure is being

determined;

(C) The characteristics of the chromium (VI) containing material being handled when the historical

monitoring data were obtained are the same as

those on the job for which exposure is being determined;

(D) Environmental conditions prevailing when the

historical monitoring data were obtained are the

same as those on the job for which exposure is

being determined; and

(E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials,

processing, or employee exposures covered by the

exception.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that historical exposure records are maintained and made available in

accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(3) Objective data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all objective data relied upon to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The chromium containing material in question;

(B) The source of the objective data;

(C) The testing protocol and results of testing, or

analysis of the material for the release of chromium (VI);

(D) A description of the process, operation, or

activity and how the data support the determination; and

(E) Other data relevant to the process, operation,

activity, material, or employee exposures.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that objective data

are maintained and made available in accordance

with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(4) Medical surveillance.

(i) The employer shall establish and maintain an

accurate record for each employee covered by medical surveillance under paragraph (k) of this section.

(ii) The record shall include the following information about the employee:

(A) Name and social security number;

(B) A copy of the PLHCP’s written opinions;

(C) A copy of the information provided to the

PLHCP as required by paragraph (k)(4) of this 

section.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(n) DATES.

(1) For employers with 20 or more employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (f) of this section, commence November 27, 2006.

(2) For employers with 19 or fewer employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (f) of this section, commence May 30, 2007.

(3) For all employers, engineering controls required by paragraph (f) of this section shall be implemented no later than May 31, 2010.
SHIPYARDS STANDARD

§1915.1026 Chromium (VI)

(a) SCOPE.

(1) This standard applies to occupational exposures to chromium (VI) in all forms and compounds in

shipyards, marine terminals, and longshoring, except:

(2) Exposures that occur in the application of pesticides regulated by the Environmental Protection

Agency or another Federal government agency (e.g.,

the treatment of wood with preservatives);

(3) Exposures to portland cement; or

(4) Where the employer has objective data demonstrating that a material containing chromium or a specific process, operation, or activity involving chromium

cannot release dusts, fumes, or mists of chromium

(VI) in concentrations at or above 0.5 μg/m3 as an 8-

hour time-weighted average (TWA) under any expected conditions of use.

(b) DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:

Action level means a concentration of airborne

chromium (VI) of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of

air (2.5 μg/m3

) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted

average (TWA).

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary

of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.

Department of Labor, or designee.

Chromium (VI) [hexavalent chromium or Cr(VI)]

means chromium with a valence of positive six, in any

form and in any compound. 

Director means the Director of the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or

designee.

Emergency means any occurrence that results, or

is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of chromium (VI). If an incidental release of chromium (VI) can

be controlled at the time of release by employees in

the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel, it is not an emergency.

Employee exposure means the exposure to airborne chromium (VI) that would occur if the employee

were not using a respirator. 

High-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filter means a

filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing

mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter or larger.

Historical monitoring data means data from

chromium (VI) monitoring conducted prior to May 30,

2006, obtained during work operations conducted

under workplace conditions closely resembling the

processes, types of material, control methods, work

practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations.

Objective data means information such as air

monitoring data from industry-wide surveys or calculations based on the composition or chemical and

physical properties of a substance demonstrating the

employee exposure to chromium (VI) associated with

a particular product or material or a specific process,

operation, or activity. The data must reflect workplace

conditions closely resembling the processes, types of

material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations.

Physician or other licensed health care professional [PLHCP] is an individual whose legally permitted

scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be

delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of

the particular health care services required by paragraph (i) of this section. 

This section means this 1915.1026 chromium (VI)

standard. 

(c) PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL).

The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed

to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) in excess

of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 μg/m3

), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).

(d) EXPOSURE DETERMINATION.

(1) General. Each employer who has a workplace

or work operation covered by this section shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee

exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be

made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or

paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

(2) Scheduled monitoring option.

(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

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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.

(ii) If initial monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, the employer

may discontinue monitoring for those employees

whose exposures are represented by such monitoring. 

(iii) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be at or above the action level, the employer shall

perform periodic monitoring at least every six

months.

(iv) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be above the PEL, the employer shall perform periodic

monitoring at least every three months.

(v) If periodic monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, and the result is

confirmed by the result of another monitoring taken at

least seven days later, the employer may discontinue

the monitoring for those employees whose exposures

are represented by such monitoring.

(vi) The employer shall perform additional monitoring when there has been any change in the production process, raw materials, equipment, personnel,

work practices, or control methods that may result in

new or additional exposures to chromium (VI), or

when the employer has any reason to believe that

new or additional exposures have occurred.

(3) Performance-oriented option. The employer

shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each

employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data, historical monitoring data, or objective

data sufficient to accurately characterize employee

exposure to chromium (VI).

(4) Employee notification of determination results.

(i) Where the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure exceeds the PEL, as soon as

possible but not more than 5 working days later the

employer shall either post the results in an appropriate location that is accessible to all affected employees or shall notify each affected employee individually

in writing of the results.

(ii) Whenever the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure is above the PEL, the employer shall describe in the written notification the

corrective action being taken to reduce employee

exposure to or below the PEL.

(5) Accuracy of measurement. Where air monitoring is performed to comply with the requirements of

this section, the employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis that can measure chromium (VI)

to within an accuracy of plus or minus 25 percent (+/-

25%) and can produce accurate measurements to

within a statistical confidence level of 95 percent for

airborne concentrations at or above the action level.

(6) Observation of monitoring.

(i) Where air monitoring is performed to comply

with the requirements of this section, the employer

shall provide affected employees or their designated

representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to chromium (VI).

(ii) When observation of monitoring requires entry

into an area where the use of protective clothing or

equipment is required, the employer shall provide the

observer with clothing and equipment and shall

assure that the observer uses such clothing and

equipment and complies with all other applicable

safety and health procedures.

(e) METHODS OF COMPLIANCE.

(1) Engineering and work practice controls.

(i) Except as permitted in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this

section, the employer shall use engineering and work

practice controls to reduce and maintain employee

exposure to chromium (VI) to or below the PEL unless

the employer can demonstrate that such controls are

not feasible. Wherever feasible engineering and work

practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee

exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall use

them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable, and shall supplement them by the use

of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section.

(ii) Where the employer can demonstrate that a

process or task does not result in any employee exposure to chromium (VI) above the PEL for 30 or more

days per year (12 consecutive months), the requirement to implement engineering and work practice

controls to achieve the PEL does not apply to that

process or task.

(2) Prohibition of rotation. The employer shall not

rotate employees to different jobs to achieve compliance with the PEL.

(f) RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.

(1) General. The employer shall provide respiratory protection for employees during:

(i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls;
(ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities, for which engineering and work practice controls are not feasible;

(iii) Work operations for which an employer has

implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to

reduce exposures to or below the PEL;

(iv) Work operations where employees are exposed above the PEL for fewer than 30 days per year,

and the employer has elected not to implement engineering and work practice controls to achieve the PEL;

or

(v) Emergencies.

(2) Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall

institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.

(g) PROTECTIVE WORK CLOTHING AND 

EQUIPMENT.

(1) Provision and use. Where a hazard is present or

is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with

chromium (VI), the employer shall provide appropriate

personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost

to employees, and shall ensure that employees use

such clothing and equipment.

(2) Removal and storage.

(i) The employer shall ensure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift

or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium

(VI) exposure, whichever comes first.

(ii) The employer shall ensure that no employee

removes chromium (VI)-contaminated protective

clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for

those employees whose job it is to launder, clean,

maintain, or dispose of such clothing or equipment.

(iii) When contaminated protective clothing or

equipment is removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, the employer shall ensure that it

is stored and transported in sealed, impermeable

bags or other closed, impermeable containers.

(iv) Bags or containers of contaminated protective

clothing or equipment that are removed from change

rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or 

disposal shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard

(29 CFR 1910.1200).

(3) Cleaning and replacement.

(i) The employer shall clean, launder, repair and

replace all protective clothing and equipment required

by this section as needed to maintain its effectiveness.

(ii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of

chromium (VI) from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that

disperses chromium (VI) into the air or onto an

employee’s body.

(iii) The employer shall inform any person who

launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment

contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially

harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that

the clothing and equipment should be laundered or

cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the

release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the PEL.

(h) HYGIENE AREAS AND PRACTICES.

(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 1915.97. Eating and drinking areas provided

by the employer shall also be in conformance with

§1915.97.

(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 crosscontamination.

(3) Washing facilities.

(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.

(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.

(4) Eating and drinking areas.

(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).

(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 equip30

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ment by methods that do not disperse chromium (VI)

into the air or onto an employee’s body.

(5) Prohibited activities. The employer shall ensure

that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics 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.

(i) MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE.

(1) General.

(i) The employer shall make medical surveillance

available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for all employees:

(A) Who are or may be occupationally exposed to

chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or

more days a year;

(B) Experiencing signs or symptoms of the adverse

health effects associated with chromium (VI) exposure; or

(C) Exposed in an emergency.

(ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures required by this section

are performed by or under the supervision of a

PLHCP. 

(2) Frequency. The employer shall provide a medical examination:

(i) Within 30 days after initial assignment, unless

the employee has received a chromium (VI) related

medical examination that meets the requirements of

this paragraph within the last twelve months;

(ii) Annually;

(iii) Within 30 days after a PLHCP’s written medical

opinion recommends an additional examination;

(iv) Whenever an employee shows signs or symptoms of the adverse health effects associated with

chromium (VI) exposure;

(v) Within 30 days after exposure during an emergency which results in an uncontrolled release of

chromium (VI); or

(vi) At the termination of employment, unless the

last examination that satisfied the requirements of

paragraph (i) of this section was less than six months

prior to the date of termination.

(3) Contents of examination. A medical examination consists of:

(i) A medical and work history, with emphasis on:

past, present, and anticipated future exposure to

chromium (VI); any history of respiratory system dysfunction; any history of asthma, dermatitis, skin ulceration, or nasal septum perforation; and smoking status and history;

(ii) A physical examination of the skin and respiratory tract; and

(iii) Any additional tests deemed appropriate by

the examining PLHCP.

(4) Information provided to the PLHCP. The employer shall ensure that the examining PLHCP has a

copy of this standard, and shall provide the following

information:

(i) A description of the affected employee’s former,

current, and anticipated duties as they relate to the

employee’s occupational exposure to chromium (VI);

(ii) The employee’s former, current, and anticipated

levels of occupational exposure to chromium (VI); 

(iii) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used by the employee, including

when and for how long the employee has used that

equipment; and 

(iv) Information from records of employment-related medical examinations previously provided to the

affected employee, currently within the control of the

employer.

(5) PLHCP’s written medical opinion.

(i) The employer shall obtain a written medical

opinion from the PLHCP, within 30 days for each medical examination performed on each employee, which

contains:

(A) The PLHCP’s opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that

would place the employee at increased risk of

material impairment to health from further exposure to chromium (VI);

(B) Any recommended limitations upon the employee’s exposure to chromium (VI) or upon the

use of personal protective equipment such as respirators;

(C) A statement that the PLHCP has explained to

the employee the results of the medical examination, including any medical conditions related to

chromium (VI) exposure that require further evaluation or treatment, and any special provisions for

use of protective clothing or equipment. 

(ii) The PLHCP shall not reveal to the employer

specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to chromium (VI).

(iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the

PLHCP’s written medical opinion to the examined

employee within two weeks after receiving it.
(j) COMMUNICATION OF CHROMIUM (VI) 

HAZARDS TO EMPLOYEES.

(1) General. In addition to the requirements of the

Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)

employers shall comply with the following requirements.

(2) Employee information and training.

(i) The employer shall ensure that each employee

can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:

(A) The contents of this section; and

(B) The purpose and a description of the medical

surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of

this section.

(ii) The employer shall make a copy of this section

readily available without cost to all affected employees.

(k) RECORDKEEPING.

(1) Air monitoring data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all air monitoring conducted to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The date of measurement for each sample

taken; 

(b) The operation involving exposure to chromium

(VI) that is being monitored;

(C) Sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

(D) Number, duration, and the results of samples

taken;

(E) Type of personal protective equipment, such as

respirators worn; and

(F) Name, social security number, and job classification of all employees represented by the monitoring, indicating which employees were actually

monitored.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that exposure records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(2) Historical monitoring data.

(i) Where the employer has relied on historical

monitoring data to determine exposure to chromium

(VI), the employer shall establish and maintain an

accurate record of the historical monitoring data relied

upon.

(ii) The record shall include information that reflects the following conditions:

(A) The data were collected using methods that

meet the accuracy requirements of paragraph

(d)(5) of this section;

(B) The processes and work practices that were in

use when the historical monitoring data were

obtained are essentially the same as those to be

used during the job for which exposure is being

determined;

(C) The characteristics of the chromium (VI) containing material being handled when the historical

monitoring data were obtained are the same as

those on the job for which exposure is being determined;

(D) Environmental conditions prevailing when the

historical monitoring data were obtained are the

same as those on the job for which exposure is

being determined; and

(E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials,

processing, or employee exposures covered by the

exception.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that historical exposure records are maintained and made available in

accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(3) Objective data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all objective data relied upon to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The chromium containing material in question;

(B) The source of the objective data;

(C) The testing protocol and results of testing, or

analysis of the material for the release of chromium (VI);

(D) A description of the process, operation, or

activity and how the data support the determination; and

(E) Other data relevant to the process, operation,

activity, material, or employee exposures.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that objective data

are maintained and made available in accordance

with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(4) Medical surveillance.

(i) The employer shall establish and maintain an

accurate record for each employee covered by medical surveillance under paragraph (i) of this section.

(ii) The record shall include the following information about the employee:

(A) Name and social security number;

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(B) A copy of the PLHCP’s written opinions;

(C) A copy of the information provided to the

PLHCP as required by paragraph (i)(4) of this section.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(l) DATES.

(1) For employers with 20 or more employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section, commence November 27, 2006.

(2) For employers with 19 or fewer employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section, commence May 30, 2007.

(3) For all employers, engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section shall be implemented no later than May 31, 2010.
CONSTRUCTION STANDARD

§1926.1126 Chromium (VI)

(a) SCOPE.

(1) This standard applies to occupational exposures to chromium (VI) in all forms and compounds in

construction, except:

(2) Exposures that occur in the application of pesticides regulated by the Environmental Protection

Agency or another Federal government agency (e.g.,

the treatment of wood with preservatives);

(3) Exposures to portland cement; or

(4) Where the employer has objective data demonstrating that a material containing chromium or a specific process, operation, or activity involving chromium

cannot release dusts, fumes, or mists of chromium

(VI) in concentrations at or above 0.5 μg/m3 as an 8-

hour time-weighted average (TWA) under any expected conditions of use.

(b) DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this section the following definitions apply:

Action level means a concentration of airborne

chromium (VI) of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of

air (2.5 μg/m3

) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted

average (TWA).

Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary

of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.

Department of Labor, or designee.

Chromium (VI) [hexavalent chromium or Cr(VI)]

means chromium with a valence of positive six, in any

form and in any compound. 

Director means the Director of the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or

designee.

Emergency means any occurrence that results, or

is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of chromium (VI). If an incidental release of chromium (VI) can

be controlled at the time of release by employees in

the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel, it is not an emergency.

Employee exposure means the exposure to airborne chromium (VI) that would occur if the employee

were not using a respirator. 

High-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filter means a

filter that is at least 99.97 percent efficient in removing

mono-dispersed particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter or larger.

Historical monitoring data means data from

chromium (VI) monitoring conducted prior to May 30,

2006, obtained during work operations conducted

under workplace conditions closely resembling the

processes, types of material, control methods, work

practices, and environmental conditions in the

employer’s current operations.

Objective data means information such as air

monitoring data from industry-wide surveys or calculations based on the composition or chemical and

physical properties of a substance demonstrating the

employee exposure to chromium (VI) associated with

a particular product or material or a specific process,

operation, or activity. The data must reflect workplace

conditions closely resembling the processes, types of

material, control methods, work practices, and environmental conditions in the employer’s current operations.

Physician or other licensed health care professional [PLHCP] is an individual whose legally permitted

scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be

delegated the responsibility to provide some or all of

the particular health care services required by paragraph (i) of this section. 

This section means this 1926.1126 chromium (VI)

standard. 

(c) PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL).

The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI)

in excess of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5

μg/m3

), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average

(TWA).

(d) EXPOSURE DETERMINATION.

(1) General. Each employer who has a workplace

or work operation covered by this section shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee

exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be

made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or

paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

(2) Scheduled monitoring option.

(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 classifi34

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Health Administration
cation, 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.

(ii) If initial monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, the employer

may discontinue monitoring for those employees

whose exposures are represented by such monitoring. 

(iii) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be at or above the action level, the employer shall

perform periodic monitoring at least every six

months.

(iv) If monitoring reveals employee exposures to

be above the PEL, the employer shall perform periodic

monitoring at least every three months.

(v) If periodic monitoring indicates that employee

exposures are below the action level, and the result is

confirmed by the result of another monitoring taken at

least seven days later, the employer may discontinue

the monitoring for those employees whose exposures

are represented by such monitoring.

(vi) The employer shall perform additional monitoring when there has been any change in the production process, raw materials, equipment, personnel,

work practices, or control methods that may result in

new or additional exposures to chromium (VI), or

when the employer has any reason to believe that

new or additional exposures have occurred.

(3) Performance-oriented option. The employer

shall determine the 8-hour TWA exposure for each

employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data, historical monitoring data, or objective

data sufficient to accurately characterize employee

exposure to chromium (VI).

(4) Employee notification of determination results.

(i) Where the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure exceeds the PEL, as soon as

possible but not more than 5 working days later the

employer shall either post the results in an appropriate location that is accessible to all affected employees or shall notify each affected employee individually

in writing of the results.

(ii) Whenever the exposure determination indicates

that employee exposure is above the PEL, the employer shall describe in the written notification the

corrective action being taken to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL.

(5) Accuracy of measurement. Where air monitoring is performed to comply with the requirements of

this section, the employer shall use a method of monitoring and analysis that can measure chromium (VI)

to within an accuracy of plus or minus 25 percent (+/-

25%) and can produce accurate measurements to

within a statistical confidence level of 95 percent for

airborne concentrations at or above the action level.

(6) Observation of monitoring.

(i) Where air monitoring is performed to comply

with the requirements of this section, the employer

shall provide affected employees or their designated

representatives an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to chromium (VI).

(ii) When observation of monitoring requires entry

into an area where the use of protective clothing or

equipment is required, the employer shall provide the

observer with clothing and equipment and shall

assure that the observer uses such clothing and

equipment and complies with all other applicable

safety and health procedures.

(e) METHODS OF COMPLIANCE.

(1) Engineering and work practice controls.

(i) Except as permitted in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this

section, the employer shall use engineering and work

practice controls to reduce and maintain employee

exposure to chromium (VI) to or below the PEL unless

the employer can demonstrate that such controls are

not feasible. Wherever feasible engineering and work

practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee

exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall use

them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable, and shall supplement them by the use

of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section.

(ii) Where the employer can demonstrate that a

process or task does not result in any employee exposure to chromium (VI) above the PEL for 30 or more

days per year (12 consecutive months), the requirement to implement engineering and work practice

controls to achieve the PEL does not apply to that

process or task. 

(2) Prohibition of rotation. The employer shall not

rotate employees to different jobs to achieve compliance with the PEL.

(f) RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.

(1) General. The employer shall provide respiratory protection for employees during:

(i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls;

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(ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and

repair activities, for which engineering and work practice controls are not feasible;

(iii) Work operations for which an employer has

implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls and such controls are not sufficient to

reduce exposures to or below the PEL;

(iv) Work operations where employees are exposed above the PEL for fewer than 30 days per year,

and the employer has elected not to implement engineering and work practice controls to achieve the PEL;

or

(v) Emergencies.

(2) Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall

institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.

(g) PROTECTIVE WORK CLOTHING AND 

EQUIPMENT.

(1) Provision and use. Where a hazard is present or

is likely to be present from skin or eye contact with

chromium (VI), the employer shall provide appropriate

personal protective clothing and equipment at no cost

to employees, and shall ensure that employees use

such clothing and equipment.

(2) Removal and storage.

(i) The employer shall ensure that employees remove all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift

or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium

(VI) exposure, whichever comes first.

(ii) The employer shall ensure that no employee

removes chromium (VI)-contaminated protective

clothing or equipment from the workplace, except for

those employees whose job it is to launder, clean,

maintain, or dispose of such clothing or equipment.

(iii) When contaminated protective clothing or

equipment is removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, the employer shall ensure that it

is stored and transported in sealed, impermeable

bags or other closed, impermeable containers.

(iv) Bags or containers of contaminated protective

clothing or equipment that are removed from change

rooms for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or 

disposal shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard

(29 CFR 1910.1200).

(3) Cleaning and replacement.

(i) The employer shall clean, launder, repair and

replace all protective clothing and equipment required

by this section as needed to maintain its effectiveness.

(ii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of

chromium (VI) from protective clothing and equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means that

disperses chromium (VI) into the air or onto an employee’s body.

(iii) The employer shall inform any person who

launders or cleans protective clothing or equipment

contaminated with chromium (VI) of the potentially

harmful effects of exposure to chromium (VI) and that

the clothing and equipment should be laundered or

cleaned in a manner that minimizes skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) and effectively prevents the

release of airborne chromium (VI) in excess of the PEL.

(h) HYGIENE AREAS AND PRACTICES.

(1) General. Where protective clothing and equipment is required, the employer shall provide change

rooms in conformance with 29 CFR 1926.51. Where

skin contact with chromium (VI) occurs, the employer

shall provide washing facilities in conformance with

29 CFR 1926.51. Eating and drinking areas provided

by the employer shall also be in conformance with

§1926.51.

(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 crosscontamination.

(3) Washing facilities.

(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.

(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.

(4) Eating and drinking areas.

(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).

(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 equip36

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
ment by methods that do not disperse chromium (VI)

into the air or onto an employee’s body.

(5) Prohibited activities. The employer shall ensure

that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics 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.

(i) MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE.

(1) General.

(i) The employer shall make medical surveillance

available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for all employees:

(A) Who are or may be occupationally exposed to

chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or

more days a year;

(B) Experiencing signs or symptoms of the adverse

health effects associated with chromium (VI) exposure; or

(C) Exposed in an emergency.

(ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures required by this section

are performed by or under the supervision of a

PLHCP. 

(2) Frequency. The employer shall provide a medical examination:

(i) Within 30 days after initial assignment, unless

the employee has received a chromium (VI) related

medical examination that meets the requirements of

this paragraph within the last twelve months;

(ii) Annually;

(iii) Within 30 days after a PLHCP’s written medical

opinion recommends an additional examination;

(iv) Whenever an employee shows signs or symptoms of the adverse health effects associated with

chromium (VI) exposure;

(v) Within 30 days after exposure during an emergency which results in an uncontrolled release of

chromium (VI); or

(vi) At the termination of employment, unless the

last examination that satisfied the requirements of

paragraph (i) of this section was less than six months

prior to the date of termination.

(3) Contents of examination. A medical examination consists of:

(i) A medical and work history, with emphasis on:

past, present, and anticipated future exposure to

chromium (VI); any history of respiratory system dysfunction; any history of asthma, dermatitis, skin ulceration, or nasal septum perforation; and smoking status and history;

(ii) A physical examination of the skin and respiratory tract; and

(iii) Any additional tests deemed appropriate by

the examining PLHCP.

(4) Information provided to the PLHCP. The employer shall ensure that the examining PLHCP has a

copy of this standard, and shall provide the following

information:

(i) A description of the affected employee’s former,

current, and anticipated duties as they relate to the

employee’s occupational exposure to chromium (VI);

(ii) The employee’s former, current, and anticipated

levels of occupational exposure to chromium (VI); 

(iii) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used by the employee, including

when and for how long the employee has used that

equipment; and 

(iv) Information from records of employment-related medical examinations previously provided to the

affected employee, currently within the control of the

employer.

(5) PLHCP’s written medical opinion.

(i) The employer shall obtain a written medical

opinion from the PLHCP, within 30 days for each medical examination performed on each employee, which

contains:

(A) The PLHCP’s opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that

would place the employee at increased risk of

material impairment to health from further exposure to chromium (VI);

(B) Any recommended limitations upon the employee’s exposure to chromium (VI) or upon the

use of personal protective equipment such as respirators;

(C) A statement that the PLHCP has explained to

the employee the results of the medical examination, including any medical conditions related to

chromium (VI) exposure that require further evaluation or treatment, and any special provisions for

use of protective clothing or equipment. 

(ii) The PLHCP shall not reveal to the employer

specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to chromium (VI).

(iii) The employer shall provide a copy of the

PLHCP’s written medical opinion to the examined

employee within two weeks after receiving it.

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HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

37
(j) COMMUNICATION OF CHROMIUM (VI) 

HAZARDS TO EMPLOYEES.

(1) General. In addition to the requirements of the

Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)

employers shall comply with the following requirements.

(2) Employee information and training.

(i) The employer shall ensure that each employee

can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:

(A) The contents of this section; and

(B) The purpose and a description of the medical

surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of

this section.

(ii) The employer shall make a copy of this section readily available without cost to all affected

employees.

(k) RECORDKEEPING.

(1) Air monitoring data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all air monitoring conducted to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The date of measurement for each sample

taken; 

(B) The operation involving exposure to chromium

(VI) that is being monitored;

(C) Sampling and analytical methods used and evidence of their accuracy;

(D) Number, duration, and the results of samples

taken;

(E) Type of personal protective equipment, such as

respirators worn; and

(F) Name, social security number, and job classification of all employees represented by the monitoring, indicating which employees were actually

monitored.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that exposure records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(2) Historical monitoring data.

(i) Where the employer has relied on historical

monitoring data to determine exposure to chromium

(VI), the employer shall establish and maintain an

accurate record of the historical monitoring data relied

upon.

(ii) The record shall include information that reflects

the following conditions:

(A) The data were collected using methods that

meet the accuracy requirements of paragraph

(d)(5) of this section;

(B) The processes and work practices that were in

use when the historical monitoring data were

obtained are essentially the same as those to be

used during the job for which exposure is being

determined;

(C) The characteristics of the chromium (VI) containing material being handled when the historical

monitoring data were obtained are the same as

those on the job for which exposure is being determined;

(D) Environmental conditions prevailing when the

historical monitoring data were obtained are the

same as those on the job for which exposure is

being determined; and

(E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials,

processing, or employee exposures covered by the

exception.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that historical exposure records are maintained and made available in

accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(3) Objective data.

(i) The employer shall maintain an accurate record

of all objective data relied upon to comply with the

requirements of this section.

(ii) This record shall include at least the following

information:

(A) The chromium containing material in question;

(B) The source of the objective data;

(C) The testing protocol and results of testing, or

analysis of the material for the release of chromium (VI);

(D) A description of the process, operation, or

activity and how the data support the determination; and

(E) Other data relevant to the process, operation,

activity, material, or employee exposures.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that objective data

are maintained and made available in accordance

with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(4) Medical surveillance.

(i) The employer shall establish and maintain an

accurate record for each employee covered by medical surveillance under paragraph (i) of this section.

(ii) The record shall include the following informa38

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
tion about the employee:

(A) Name and social security number;

(B) A copy of the PLHCP’s written opinions;

(C) A copy of the information provided to the

PLHCP as required by paragraph (i)(4) of this section.

(iii) The employer shall ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.

(l) DATES.

(1) For employers with 20 or more employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section, commence November 27, 2006.

(2) For employers with 19 or fewer employees, all

obligations of this section, except engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section, commence May 30, 2007.

(3) For all employers, engineering controls required by paragraph (e) of this section shall be implemented no later than May 31, 2010.

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

39
This appendix identifies industry operations or

processes associated with occupational exposure to

Cr(VI). For each of these sectors, a brief description of

potential sources of Cr(VI) exposure is presented.

ELECTROPLATING

Exposures to Cr(VI) can occur in hard chrome plating,

decorative chrome plating, and anodizing operations.

Cr(VI) exposures can also occur in chromium conversion coating operations. Chromium conversion is not

an electroplating process but often takes place in electroplating shops.

Employee exposures to Cr(VI) during chrome electroplating and chromium conversion coating operations occur as a result of the formation of chromatecontaining mists and aerosols that are released from

the chromate/chromic acid bath. Mists and aerosols

containing Cr(VI) are released from hydrogen bubbles

that form and burst during the electroplating process.

They may also be released when platers add or

remove parts from the bath. Helpers may also be

exposed to Cr(VI) when adding chemical agents to the

bath or when disposing of chromate-containing

wastewater. 

WELDING

Exposures to Cr(VI) can occur when welding or cutting

operations are performed on stainless steel, other

metals containing Cr(VI), or surfaces coated with

Cr(VI) paint. Welding on carbon steel in confined or

enclosed spaces may also result in Cr(VI) exposures.

Employee exposure to Cr(VI) is expected to

increase as the chromium content of the base material

increases. Therefore, one would expect that exposures would tend to be higher for welding on stainless steel (10 to 24% chromium) versus welding on

carbon steel (generally 3% chromium or less).

However, there are other factors that can greatly affect

exposures to Cr(VI) during welding operations. These

factors include: the type of welding process used [Flux

Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Shielded Metal Arc

Welding (SMAW), and Gas Metal Arc Welding

(GMAW) generate the highest fume levels while

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) and Submerged Arc Welding

(SAW) generate lower levels]; the environment where

welding is taking place (exposures are lower in open

spaces versus confined or other enclosed spaces); and

the composition of the filler metal, flux material or

shielding gas used, which can affect the amount of

fume generated. Other factors can also influence the

amount of fume generated. For example, increasing

the welding current and voltage tend to increase the

amount of welding fume generated. 

In carbon steel welding, most exposures to Cr(VI)

are usually well below the PEL due to the low percentage of chromium metal in carbon steel. Ninety percent (90%) of the carbon steel produced has only trace

amounts of chromium. Ten percent (10%) of the carbon steel produced contains up to 3% chromium.

Carbon steel welders in confined spaces may experience elevated Cr(VI) exposures, though most exposures will be below the PEL. 

Welding a stanchion (Photo courtesy of Bath Iron Works).

PAINTING

Paints and coatings that contain Cr(VI) are applied to a

wide variety of structures and products. Cr(VI) paints

and coatings are also removed from structures and

products in many situations. Both of these scenarios

may result in employee exposure to Cr(VI).

Aerospace

In the aerospace industry, employees may be exposed

to Cr(VI) during painting of aircraft (exterior or interior) or aircraft parts, and during removal of chromatebased coatings. The primary Cr(VI)-containing product

used is strontium chromate primer, which is used as a

corrosion inhibitor on metal surfaces (particularly alu40

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Appendix II: 

Industry Operations or Processes Associated with Occupational

Exposure to Cr(VI)
minum). To a lesser extent, zinc chromate is used in

primers for corrosion protection for some products.

Employees may be exposed to Cr(VI)-containing

aerosols during spray painting. Spray painters may

also be exposed during abrasive blasting, sanding,

and grinding tasks. Assemblers may be exposed to

Cr(VI) when performing drilling, grinding, and sanding

tasks. 

Automotive

Cr(VI)-containing paints and primers are used in some

automotive refinishing facilities. Lead chromate pigments are also still used in some top coats and pretreatments, and Cr(VI) coatings are still widely used

for corrosion control in the undercoat. Spray painters

and technicians can be exposed to Cr(VI) when performing surface preparation tasks such as sanding,

grinding, and abrasive blasting as well as during

spray painting activities. 

Coil Coating

Coil coating is the application of surface coatings containing Cr(VI) to the surface of metal coil. In this

process, a coil (roll) of uncoated sheet metal is coated

on one or both sides. The coated metal strip is then

nor-mally rewound into a coil and packaged for shipment or further processing. Coil coating tasks that can

result in exposure to Cr(VI) include coating transfer,

coating machine operation, metal feeding operations,

roll-winding operations, and maintenance operations.

Maintenance personnel have the potential for dermal

exposure when handling the coil coatings. Operators

can be exposed to Cr(VI) while performing tasks for

maintaining the viscosity of the coating, maintaining

the desired coating thickness, and cleaning of the

rollers. 

Construction and Shipyards

Prior to the 1970s, exposed steel surfaces such as

bridges, water towers, and industrial buildings were

often painted with Cr(VI) primers and paints colored

with chromate-based pigments. During the late 1970s

and early 1980s, the use of Cr(VI) compounds for

these applications began to decline. Cr(VI)-containing

paints and coatings are now used very rarely in the

construction industry. Similarly, Cr(VI) paints and

primers were once commonly used on ships and

other marine vessels but are now used infrequently.

Cr(VI) exposures can occur when removing old

paint by abrasive blasting (or infrequently by sanding,

chipping, or grinding) from structures or vessels that

have been previously painted with Cr(VI)-containing

paints or primers. Exposures can also occur in those

limited situations where spray painting of Cr(VI)-containing primers and paints still occurs and during

cleanup activities.

Traffic Painting

Cr(VI)-containing paints are also used in some traffic

painting operations. There are two types of traffic

painting operations: road striping and painting of

roadside curbs and traffic islands. Both involve the

use of Cr(VI)-containing paint that is diluted with

toluene (as necessary) during painting operations.

Employees are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) during

this mixing task. Painting of roadside curbs and traffic

islands typically involves use of a hand-held spray

line, which also involves potential Cr(VI) exposure.

PRODUCERS OF CHROMATES AND RELATED

CHEMICALS FROM CHROMITE ORE

This industry includes facilities that produce sodium

chromate/sodium dichromate (SDC) and other related

compounds from chromite ore. Employees are exposed during production of SDC and other related

compounds because all of the compounds produced

are Cr(VI) compounds. Process operators, packaging

employees, and maintenance employees have the

greatest potential Cr(VI) exposure.

CHROMATE PIGMENT PRODUCERS

This industry includes facilities that produce chromium pigments from Cr(VI) compounds such as sodium

chromate and sodium bichromate. Employees who

are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include those who

perform drying, blending, or packaging operations;

strike tank operators; maintenance employees; laborers; laboratory technicians; wastewater treatment

operators; managers and supervisors; proprietary

process operators; and dispersion operators. 

The highest exposures to Cr(VI) occur when employees handle chromate materials in the dry form,

which can generate airborne particles. The activities

that have the potential for the highest exposures are

drying, blending, and packaging. Maintenance employees are exposed to residual dust that deposits on

process equipment as well as elevated background

Cr(VI) levels in the process area. Wastewater treatment operators are exposed during collection of system samples and are also exposed to elevated backS M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

41
ground Cr(VI) levels. Proprietary process operators are

exposed to Cr(VI) from inhaling the dried material that

accumulates on conveyor surfaces. Strike tank operators are subject to increased background levels of exposure from Cr(VI) generated during other processes. 

CHROMATED COPPER ARSENATE (CCA)

PRODUCERS

This industry includes facilities that produce chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which is used as a wood

preservative. The activities with the potential for highest exposures are dumping drums of chromic acid

(flakes) into a reactor and rinsing the inside of rail tank

cars after chromic acid is unloaded. Employees may

also be exposed to residual dust that settles on surfaces in warehouse areas. 

CHROMIUM CATALYST PRODUCERS

Exposures to Cr(VI) in chromium catalyst production

occur as a result of using Cr(VI)-based raw materials

(e.g., sodium bichromate), intermediate products (e.g.,

sodium chromate), and final products (e.g., ammonium dichromate, cadmium chromate, calcium dichromate, chromyl chloride, copper chromate, copper

dichromate, magnesium dichromate, nickel chromate,

silver chromate, tetramin copper (II) chromate). Employees potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include warehouse operators, maintenance personnel, screening

operators, quality control inspectors, dry-mix operators,

process control operators, control room operators,

forming operators, team leaders, and floor persons. 

Wet processors are potentially exposed to Cr(VI)-

containing dust and mist while mixing chemicals to

form a precipitate known as “striking”, while removing filter cake from a filter press, when loading and

operating a dryer, and while adding Cr(VI)-containing

raw materials as a dry solid or liquid solution to a

mixing tank. Dry process operators are potentially

exposed to Cr(VI) when loading the calciner, when

operating the forming machines, and when operating

the catalyst tablet forming machines. Dry mixing

operators are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) during the

manual transfer of Cr(VI)-containing raw materials.

Screening operators are exposed to dust as they manually load the screening machine hoppers and stand

next to the flat deck screen as the catalyst product is

screened. Solid waste handlers have the potential for

exposure to Cr(VI) dust as they load and handle plastic bags with Cr(VI) contaminated waste. 

PAINT AND COATINGS PRODUCERS

Cr(VI) exposures in the paint and coatings production

industry result from the use of chromate pigments.

Exposure to Cr(VI) is primarily from contact with dry

chromate pigment powders. Exposures are expected

to be lower at paint and coating production plants that

receive the chromate pigments in slurry form (i.e., in

300 gallon tote tanks or 30-55 gallon drums). 

The three primary categories of employees exposed

to Cr(VI) are batch makers, packagers, and shippers/

receivers. Batch makers have the highest potential

exposures while opening bags of chromate pigment,

handling the bags, and dumping the material. Shippers/

receivers can also be exposed while handling bags

containing pigments. 

PRINTING AND INK PRODUCERS

In the past, lead chromate pigments were commonly

used in the manufacture of some printing inks. The

pigments used include chrome yellow, chrome

orange, and molybdate orange. Currently, lead chromate pigments are seldom used in printing inks.

Screenprinting ink production is the only sector of this

industry that uses chromate-based inks. Lead chromate ink is used primarily for silk-screen printing on

outdoor billboards, posters and signs. Lead chromate

ink is also used in fabric silk screening applications.

The primary exposures in this industry occur when

dry lead chromate pigments are weighed and added

to the mixer. The batch mixing operation has the

potential for the highest Cr(VI) exposures. Batch

weighers are exposed to Cr(VI) while weighing the

Cr(VI)-containing pigments, adding ingredients to the

mixer, mixing the product, and disposing of the empty

bags. Airborne exposures to mill operators, utility

employees, and maintenance employees are greatly

reduced because by the time they get involved in the

process the pigments are no longer in powder form. 

PLASTIC COLORANT PRODUCERS AND USERS

This industry includes firms that produce Cr(VI)-containing colorants for use in plastics and companies

that use dry Cr(VI)-containing pigments or pigment

blends in the manufacture of plastic products.

Employees who are potentially exposed to Cr(VI)

include dry color handlers, wet mill operators, dry

color blenders/packagers, and production supervisors.

Employee exposures to Cr(VI) in the plastic colorant producers and users industry occur when employees handle chromate materials in the dry form,

42

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
which generates fine airborne dust particles. The

highest exposures occur in the production activities

that involve blending and packaging of Cr(VI)-containing dry color colorants (single pigments or pigment

blends).

PLATING MIXTURE PRODUCERS

This industry produces plating mixtures to be used in

the electroplating process. Cr(VI) exposures in this

industry arise from the use of chromic acid as a primary ingredient in the production of plating mixtures.

Plating mixtures are formulated as powders or crystals and are sold to facilities in the metal finishing

industry. Employees in the industry that are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include:

• Mixer/blender operators- dry chrome process

• Mixer/blender operators- liquid chrome process

• Laboratory chemists

FERROCHROMIUM PRODUCERS

This industry uses ferrochromium to produce stainless

and heat resisting steels, welding rods, and corrosionresistant high strength materials (i.e., superalloys).

Ferrochromium is produced in high and low carbon

forms. High carbon ferrochromium contains 50% to

70% chromium and 4% to 10% carbon. Low carbon

ferrochromium contains 65% to 75% chromium and

less than 1% carbon.

Many employees in this industry are potentially

exposed to Cr(VI) including leach operators, ager operators, lower cell room operators, cell assemblers, cell

operators, plate hookers, plate strippers, and mill operators. Leach operators are primarily exposed to Cr(VI)

that escapes when the hatch of the anolyte reduction

solution tank is opened to collect samples and when

making adjustments to the anolyte-reduction process

equipment. Ager operators are primarily exposed to

Cr(VI) through collection of samples from the ager

tanks, and through exposure to chromium solution

mist that escapes from open-top ager tanks. Cell

assemblers, cell operators, and plate hookers are

exposed to Cr(VI) from the anolyte solution mist that

escapes from the cell surface area that is not covered

or controlled by existing local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

The lower cell room operator is exposed to background

levels of Cr(VI) that escape from the electrolytic cells

during normal operation, and during cell-cleaning operations. Plate strippers are exposed to background levels

of Cr(VI) from the chromic acid bath due to their close

proximity to the plate stripping station.

STEEL MILLS

In this industry, chromium is used in steels as an

alloying agent to improve hardness and resistance to

corrosion, tarnish, rust, extreme temperature, bacterial buildup and wear. Cr(VI) alloys are added to the furnace just before tapping, or to the ladle as the molten

metal is tapped.

The primary sources of Cr(VI) in this industry

include chromium fumes from furnace operations,

tapping, and teeming (pouring), and chromium-containing particulates from surface conditioning operations. Background Cr(VI) levels in the steel mill contribute to the low exposures of many employees (e.g.,

rolling mill operators, continuous casting operators)

who do not have direct contact with molten metal or

significant dust-emitting sources. Employees in the

iron and steel producing industry who are potentially

exposed to Cr(VI) include raw material handlers, furnace operators, furnace helper/laborers, crane operators, continuous-casting operators, rolling mill operators, steel conditioning operators, and welders.

IRON AND STEEL FOUNDRIES

This industry includes companies that produce cast

metal products from steel and other metals and metal

alloys. The primary source of Cr(VI) exposures in iron

and steel foundries is the Cr(VI) fumes generated

when chromium is melted as part of the pour or when

grinding or welding the finished part. These exposures occur during the following operations:

• Furnace operation activities (e.g., making alloy

additions, removing slag, tapping furnaces into

ladles, pouring molten metal into molds) 

• Torch cutting and gouging

• Welding

Employees in the iron and steel foundry industry

who are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include molders,

furnace operators, crane operators, pourers, shake-out

and abrasive blasting operators, torch cutter/gougers,

welders, grinding operators, and laborers. Furnace

operators, crane operators, molders, pourers and

laborers are exposed to background Cr(VI) from electric arc furnace operation, pouring, grinding and welding. Grinder operators are exposed to Cr(VI) containing fume and dust that is generated in the grinding

process and escapes capture by the ventilation system. 

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

43
Filling molds in a foundry (Photo courtesy of the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)).

CHROMIUM DYE PRODUCERS

Cr(VI) is used in the production of several different

dyes to improve wash fastness, allowing the color of

the dyed wool not to change, bleed or stain other

fabrics during textile processing, wear, or washing.

Exposure to Cr(VI) in the dye production process may

occur when bags of chromic acid flakes or other chromate chemicals are emptied into vessels to be mixed

with other chemicals, and during packaging. Employees such as color makers, drying/blending/packaging operators, maintenance employees, laborers,

laboratory technicians, wastewater treatment operators, and managers/supervisors are potentially exposed to Cr(VI). The highest employee exposures to

Cr(VI) in the chromate dye production industry occur

when employees handle chromate materials in the

dry form such as drying, blending, and packaging,

which generates fine airborne dust particles.

CHROMIUM SULFATE PRODUCERS

Chromium sulfate is primarily used in chrome leather

tanning. While chromium sulfate is a trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) compound, employee exposures occur

because it is made by reducing sodium bichromate

and chromate (two Cr(VI) compounds). Chromate sulfate production can result in exposures to Cr(VI) from

processes that include the reduction of sodium

bichromate with organic compounds such as

molasses or sugar in the presence of sulfuric acid,

and the reduction of sodium bichromate with sulfur

dioxide. Employees who are exposed to Cr(VI) include

reactor operators and railcar operators.

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTORS

Chemical distributors purchase or import chemicals in

bulk and re-sell the chemicals to various chemical

manufacturers or industries for use in their operations. The two major Cr(VI) compounds that are sold

by chemical distributors are sodium dichromate and

chromic acid.

Employees may be exposed to Cr(VI) during the

storage, handling, transportation, and disposal of

Cr(VI) compounds. Exposures to Cr(VI) during chemical distribution occur when bags containing chromium chemicals are being repackaged. A slight potential

for exposure to Cr(VI) exists during transportation of

Cr(VI) compounds; chromate dust accumulated on the

bags may be disturbed, creating a potential for exposure to Cr(VI).

TEXTILE DYEING

This industry includes companies involved in the dyeing of textile fabrics. Sources of Cr(VI) in textile dyeing

include Cr(VI)-containing dyes and use of chromates

as mordants. Blenders, dyers, and maintenance

employees may be exposed to Cr(VI).

PRINTING

This industry includes companies that use Cr(VI)-containing inks in their printing processes. The Cr(VI)-

based inks are colored inks containing pigments from

lead chromate or lead molybdate. The majority of exposures to Cr(VI) occur in commercial screen printing.

Printers, mixers, and shippers are potentially exposed

to Cr(VI).

PRODUCERS OF GLASS PRODUCTS

This industry includes the producers of colored glass

and other glass products such as fiberglass continuous glass filaments. The raw materials which are used

for colored glass production contain Cr(VI). Cr(VI) is

not used as an ingredient in other glass products, but

the refractories in the furnaces used in glass production may contain trivalent chromium (Cr(III)). During

heating, the Cr(III) is oxidized to Cr(VI), resulting in

potential employee exposure to Cr(VI) at these plants.

In colored glass production, lab employees, batch

mixers, and furnace employees are potentially exposed to Cr(VI). For other glass production, employees who are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include

batch operators, furnace operators, electrostatic precipitator/baghouse operators, forehearth operators, hot

end repair operators, and furnace rebuild operators.

44

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Furnace employees in fiberglass typically have

slightly higher exposures than furnace employees in

continuous filament plants because the furnaces have

openings above the channels and forehearths to cool

the glass while continuous filament furnaces are

closed. Also, hot end repair employees in continuous

filament production are expected to have higher exposures because of the need to regularly replace bushings at the end of the forehearth.

Weighing Cr(VI) pigment for colored glass production

(Photo courtesy of the National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health (NIOSH)).

CHROMIUM CATALYST USERS

Cr(VI)-containing catalysts are used in processes such

as the production of plastics and polymers, in chemical synthesis, and gas production. In some processes,

Cr(III) catalysts are activated by heat and converted by

oxidation to Cr(VI). Catalysts are usually sold in powder form or in specific shapes such as small pellets,

and are packaged in bags or drums. Pellets generate

less dust than powders during packaging and handling.

The tasks of loading and unloading Cr(VI)-containing catalysts into and out of catalyst process reactors

and holding vessels present the greatest potential for

Cr(VI) exposure among chromium catalyst users.

Employees who perform these tasks include catalyst

service company field technicians who load and

unload catalyst and process operators who load catalysts into process vessels prior to activation of the catalyst.

PRODUCERS OF REFRACTORY BRICK

This industry includes companies that produce refractory brick from other materials. Refractories are either

clay or non-clay. Certain non-clay refractories contain

chromium, primarily chromite ore (Cr(III)). In addition,

although basic refractories are produced from Cr(III)

based ores, small quantities of chromic acid (Cr(VI))

may be added to produce specialty products.

Sometimes Cr(III) is mixed with salvaged material

which can contain Cr(VI). Employees potentially

exposed to Cr(VI) are cleaners, crusher operators,

pressmen, batchmen, mold fillers, brick loaders,

grinder operators, saw operators, and engineering

interns. These employees have potential Cr(VI) exposure because of the physical form (e.g., powder) of

the Cr(VI)-containing chemicals that are handled.

WOODWORKING

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is one of the major

chemicals used to treat wood to prevent biodegradation, and Cr(VI) is used in the formulation of CCA.

Although treatment of wood with preservatives is

exempt from the scope of the Cr(VI) standards because pesticide applications are regulated by the

Environmental Protection Agency, downstream uses

of Cr(VI)-treated wood are covered by the standards.

Employees in many downstream woodworking industries such as lumber yards, carpentry shops, and landscaping handle, cut, saw, sand, and paint CCA treated

lumber. Carpenters and carpenter helpers are the primary groups exposed to Cr(VI) from woodworking.

The principal source of airborne exposures is the dust

created during wood processing activities such as cutting, drilling, and sanding, and is not CCA leaching

out of the treated wood.

EPA requires that, as of 2003, CCA treated wood

cannot be used to construct play structures, decks,

picnic tables, landscaping timbers, patios, boardwalks,

and residential fencing. CAA treated wood will continue to be produced for permitted uses, such as salt

water use, highway construction, utility poles, and

pilings. 

SOLID WASTE INCINERATION

Exposure to Cr(VI) in waste incineration results from

the thermal destruction of chromium-containing prodS M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

45
ucts discarded by consumers and industry. Employees

potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include laborers, shredder/heavy equipment operators, maintenance and

helpers, boiler operators and assistant operators,

maintenance electricians, and truck operators (ash

hauling). The job of shredder/heavy equipment operators is unique to facilities which shred or process

refuse prior to delivery to the incineration unit. Tasks

involving periodic incinerator clean-out are a major

source of exposure. 

NON-FERROUS SUPERALLOY PRODUCERS 

AND USERS OF CHROMIUM

This group includes firms that produce or use nonferrous-based high performance alloys. These alloys are

known as “superalloys” because they have better performance at high temperatures (1500 to 2000 degrees

Fahrenheit) than conventional alloys. These alloys

also withstand relatively severe mechanical stresses

and typically have higher surface stability than conventional alloys. Nickel or cobalt, not iron, are the primary metal constituents of these alloys. The nickelbased alloys can contain 10% to 30% elemental

chromium. Cobalt-based alloys generally contain even

higher concentrations of elemental chromium. 

In this industry the primary source of exposure to

Cr(VI) is from fumes generated from the molten alloy

during furnace/refining operations (particularly during

the electroslag remelt process) and from welding

activities. In these situations the chromium is not originally hexavalent, but the high temperatures involved

in the process result in oxidation that converts the

chromium to a hexavalent state. Employees potentially exposed to Cr(VI) include melt specialists, reclaim

weigh operators, electric arc furnace operators, vacuum induction melt/air induction melt furnace operators, crane operators, refining unit operators, floor

persons, welders, inert screeners, machine operators,

laboratory technicians, and maintenance employees.

CONSTRUCTION

This sector includes general building contractors and

operative builders, heavy construction, and special

trade contractors. In addition to those employees

potentially exposed to Cr(VI) during painting and surface preparation, welding and thermal cutting, and

woodworking operations involving chromated copper

arsenate (CCA)-treated lumber, construction employees may be exposed to Cr(VI) during several other

operations.

Refractory Restoration and Maintenance

Recycled refractory bricks are used as salvage material in manufacturing new refractories. Although most

chromium in refractories is trivalent, the Cr(III) can be

converted to Cr(VI) under the conditions found in the

ovens. Recycled refractory bricks are often contaminated with yellow crystals. These crystals are thought

to be sodium chromate due to the prevalence of sodium in the glassmaking process. The salvage material

can contain high Cr(VI) concentrations. Employees

repairing and restoring refractory bricks are exposed

to this material. 

Hazardous Waste Site Work

Employees can be exposed to Cr(VI) at hazardous

waste sites in the course of sampling the environment

at the site to determine the extent of contamination

and through remediation activities. Remediation activities may include soil excavation, groundwater pumping, and subsequent treatment using such techniques

as incineration or stabilization. Even sites which are

not legally considered hazardous waste sites can be

sources of Cr(VI). Examples are parks where chromate

chemical production waste was used as fill and diking

material. 

Industrial Rehabilitation and Maintenance

Construction employees are routinely involved in

maintenance and rehabilitation work at industrial

facilities. The employees may come into contact with

Cr(VI) when employed at sites where chromium products are manufactured, processed, or otherwise present.

46

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
A. OSHA AREA OFFICES

Alabama

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Vestavia Village, 2047 Canyon Road

Birmingham, AL 35216-1981

(205) 731-1534

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1141 Montlimar Drive, Suite 1006

Mobile, AL 36609

(251) 441-6131

Alaska

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

301 W. Northern Lights Blvd, Suite 407

Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 271-5152

Arizona

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 202

Phoenix, AZ 85003

(602) 640-2348

Arkansas

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

TCBY Building, Suite 450

425 West Capitol Avenue

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 224-1841

California

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 330

San Diego, CA 92123

(415) 975-4310

Colorado

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 210

Denver, CO 80204-2552

(303) 844-5285

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

7935 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 209

Greenwood Village, CO 80111-2714

(303) 843-4500

Connecticut

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1057 Broad Street, Fourth Floor

Bridgeport, CT 06604

(203) 579-5581

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Building

450 Main Street, Room 613

Hartford, CT 06103

(860) 240-3152

Delaware

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Caleb Boggs Federal Building

844 N King Street, Room 2209

Wilmington, DE 19801-3319

(302) 573-6518

Florida

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

8040 Peters Road, Building H-100

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324

(954) 424-0242

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Ribault Building, Suite 227

1851 Executive Center Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32207

(904) 232-2895

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

5807 Breckenridge Parkway, Suite A

Tampa, FL 33610-4249

(813) 626-1177

Georgia

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

450 Mall Boulevard, Suite J

Savannah, GA 31419

(912) 652-4393

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

2400 Herodian Way, Suite 250

Smyrna, GA 30080-2968

(770) 984-8700

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

LaVista Perimeter Office Park

2183 N. Lake Parkway

Building 7 - Suite 110

Tucker, GA 30084-4154

(770) 493-6644/6742/8419

Idaho

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 201

Boise, ID 83706

(208) 321-2960

Appendix III: 

A. OSHA Area Offices

B. OSHA Regional Offices

C. States with Approved Occupational Safety and Health Plans

D. OSHA Consultation Project Directory

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

47
Illinois

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1600 167th Street, Suite 9

Calumet City, IL 60409

(708) 891-3800

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

O’hara Plaza

701 Lee Street, Suite #950

Des Plaines, IL 60016

(847) 803-4800

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

11 Executive Drive, Suite 11

Fairview Heights, IL 62208

(618) 632-8612

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

365 Smoke Tree Business Park

North Aurora, IL 60542

(630) 896-8700

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

2918 West Willow Knolls Road

Peoria, IL 61614

(309) 671-7033

Indiana

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

46 East Ohio Street, Room 453

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 226-7290

Iowa

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

210 Walnut Street, Room 815

Des Moines, IA 50309

(515) 284-4794

Kansas

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

217 W. 3rd Street North

Room #400

Wichita, KS 67202

(316) 269-6644

Kentucky

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

John C. Watts Federal Building

330 W. Broadway, Room 108

Frankfort, KY 40601-1922

(502) 227-7024

Louisiana

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

9100 Bluebonnet Centre Boulevard

Suite 201

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

(225) 298-5458

Maine

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

202 Harlow Street, Room 211

Bangor, ME 04401

(207) 941-8177

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

West Tower

100 Middle Street, Suite 410 West

Portland, ME 04101

(207) 626-9160

Maryland

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1099 Winterson Road, Suite 140

Linthicum, MD 21090-2218

(410) 865-2055/2056

Massachusetts

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

639 Granite Street, 4th Floor

Braintree, MA 02184

(617) 565-6924

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Valley Office Park

13 Branch Street

Methuen, MA 01844

(617) 565-8110

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1441 Main Street, Room 550

Springfield, MA 01103-1493

(413) 785-0123

Michigan

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

801 South Waverly Road, Suite 306

Lansing, MI 48917-4200

(517) 487-4996

Minnesota

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Minneapolis, MN 55415

*closed – please contact Eau Claire Wisconsin office at

(715) 832-9019

Mississippi

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

3780 I-55 North, Suite 210

Jackson, MS 39211-6323

(601) 965-4606

Missouri

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

6200 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 100

Kansas City, MO 64120

(816) 483-9531

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

911 Washington Avenue, Room 420

St. Louis, MO 63101

(314) 425-4249

48

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Montana

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

2900 4th Avenue North, Suite 303

Billings, MT 59101

(406) 247-7494

Nebraska

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Overland - Wolf Building

6910 Pacific Street, Room 100

Omaha, NE 68106

(402) 553-0171

Nevada

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

705 North Plaza, Room 204

Carson City, NV 89701

(775) 885-6963

New Hampshire

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

279 Pleasant Street, Suite 201

Concord, NH 03301

(603) 225-1580

New Jersey

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1030 St. Georges Avenue

Plaza 35, Suite 205

Avenel, NJ 07001

(732) 750-3270

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

500 Route 17 South, 2nd Floor

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604

(201) 288-1700

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Marlton Executive Park, Building 2

701 Route 73 South, Suite 120

Marlton, NJ 08053

(856) 757-5181

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

299 Cherry Hill Road, Suite 304

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 263-1003

New York

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

401 New Karner Road, Suite 300

Albany, NY 12205-3809

(518) 464-4338

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

42-40 Bell Boulevard

Bayside, NY 11361

(718) 279-9060

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

5360 Genesee Street

Bowmansville, NY 14026

(716) 551-3053

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

201 Varick Street - Room #646

New York, NY 10014

(212) 620-3200

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

3300 Vickery Road

North Syracuse, NY 13212

(315) 451-0808

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

660 White Plains Road, 4th Floor

Tarrytown, NY 10591-5107

(914) 524-7510

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1400 Old Country Road, Room 208

Westbury, NY 11590

(516) 334-3344

North Carolina

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Century Station Federal Office Building

300 Fayetteville Street Mall, Room 438

Raleigh, NC 27601-9998

(919) 856-4770

North Dakota

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1640 East Capitol Avenue

Bismark, ND 58501

(701) 250-4521

Ohio

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

36 Triangle Park Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(513) 841-4132

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building 

1240 East 9th Street, Room 899

Cleveland, OH 44199

(216) 522-3818

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building

200 North High Street, Room 620

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 469-5582

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

420 Madison Avenue

Suite 600

Toledo, OH 43604

(419) 259-7542

Oklahoma

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

55 North Robinson, Suite 315

Oklahoma City, OK 73102-9237

(405) 278-9560

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

49
Oregon

U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA

Federal Office Building

1220 Southwest 3rd Avenue, Room 640

Portland, OR 97204

(503) 326-2251

Pennsylvania

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

850 North 5th Street

Allentown, PA 18102

(610) 776-0592

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

3939 West Ridge Road, Suite B12

Erie, PA 16506-1887

(814) 833-5758

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Progress Plaza

49 North Progress Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17109

(717) 782-3902

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

U.S. Custom House, Room 242

Second and Chestnut Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2902

(215) 597-4955

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building 

1000 Liberty Avenue, Room 1428

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4101

(412) 395-4903

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Steigmaier

7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, Suite 410

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-350

(570) 826-6538

Puerto Rico

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Triple SSS Plaza Building

1510 F. D. Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 5B

Guaynabo, PR 00968

(787) 277-1560

Rhode Island

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building 

380 Westminster Mall, Room 543

Providence, RI 02903

(401) 528-4669

South Carolina

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1835 Assembly Street, Room 1468

Columbia, SC 29201-2453

(803) 765-5904

Tennessee

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite C-205

Nashville, TN 37215-2809

(615) 781-5423

Texas

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1033 La Posada Drive, Suite 375 

Austin, TX 78752-3832

(512) 374-0271

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Wilson Plaza

606 N. Carancahua, Suite 700

Corpus Christi, TX 78476

(361) 888-3420

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

8344 East R.L. Thornton Freeway, Suite 420

Dallas, TX 75228

(214) 320-2400 (2558)

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

700 E San Antonio St.

Room C-408

El Paso, TX 79901

(915) 534-6251

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

North Starr II, Suite 302

8713 Airport Freeway

Fort Worth, TX 76180-7610

(817) 428-2470 (485-7647)

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

507 N. Sam Houston Pky., Suite 400

Houston, TX 77060

(281) 591-2438 (2787)

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

17625 El Camino Real, Suite 400

Houston, TX 77058

(281) 286-0583/0584 (5922)

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building 

1205 Texas Avenue, Room 806

Lubbock, TX 79401

(806) 472-7681 (7685)

Utah

U.S. Depaartment of Labor - OSHA

160 E 300 South

Heber-Wells Building

P. O. Box 146650

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6650

(801) 233-4900

50

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
Virginia

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Federal Office Building 

200 Granby Street, Room 614

Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 441-3820 

Washington

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

505 106th Avenue, NE, Suite 302

Bellevue, WA 98004

(425) 450-5438

West Virginia

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

405 Capitol Street

Suite 407

Charleston, WV 25301

(304) 347-5937

Wisconsin

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1648 Tri Parkway

Appleton, WI 54914

(920) 734-4521

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

1310 West Clairmont Avenue

Eau Claire, WI 54701

(715) 832-9019

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

4802 E. Broadway

Madison, WI 53716

(608) 441-5388

U.S. Department of Labor - OSHA

Henry S. Reuss Building

310 W. Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1180

Milwaukee, WI 53203

(414) 297-3315

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

51
B. OSHA REGIONAL OFFICES

Region I 

(CT*, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT*)

JFK Federal Building, Room E340

Boston, Massachusetts 02203

Boston, MA 02203

(617) 565-9860

Region II

(NJ*, NY*, PR*, VI*)

201 Varick Street, Room 670

New York, NY 10014

(212) 337-2378

Region III

(DE, DC, MD*, PA*, VA*, WV)

The Curtis Center

170 S. Independence Mall West

Suite 740 West

Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309

(215) 861-4900

Region IV

(AL, FL, GA, KY*, MS, NC*, SC*, TN*)

Atlanta Federal Center

61 Forsyth Street SW, Room 6T50

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 562-2300

Region V

(IL, IN*, MI*, MN*, OH, WI)

230 South Dearborn Street,

Room 3244

Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 353-2220

Region VI

(AR, LA, NM*, OK, TX)

525 Griffin Street, Room 602

Dallas, TX 75202

(214) 767-4731 or 4736 x224

Region VII

(IA*, KS, MO, NE)

City Center Square

1100 Main Street, Suite 800

Kansas City, MO 64105

(816) 426-5861

Region VIII

(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT*, WY*)

1999 Broadway, Suite 1690

PO Box 46550

Denver, CO 80202-5716

(720) 264-6550

Region IX

(American Samoa, AZ*, CA*, HI, NV*, Northern Mariana

Islands)

71 Stevenson Street, Room 420

San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 975-4310

Region X

(AK*, ID, OR*, WA*)

1111 Third Avenue, Suite 715

Seattle, WA 98101-3212

(206) 553-5930

*These states and territories operate their own OHSAapproved job safety and health programs (Connecticut,

New Jersey, New York, and Virgin Islands plans cover

public employees only). States with approved programs

must have a standard that is identical to, or at least as

effective as, the federal standard.

52

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
C. STATES WITH APPROVED OCCUPATIONAL

SAFETY AND HEALTH PLANS

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

P.O. Box 21149

1111 W. 8th Street, Room 306

Juneau, Alaska 99802-1149

Commissioner (907) 465-2700 Fax: (907) 465-2784

Director (907) 465-4855 Fax: (907) 465-6012 

Industrial Commission of Arizona

800 W. Washington

Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2922

Director, ICA(602) 542-4411 Fax: (602) 542-1614

Program Director (602) 542-5795 Fax: (602) 542-1614 

California Department of Industrial Relations

1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901

Oakland, California 94612

Acting Director (415) 703-5050 Fax:(415) 703-5059

Acting Chief, Cal/OSHA (510) 286-7000 

FAX (510) 286-7038

Deputy Chief, Cal/OSHA (714) 939-8093 

FAX (714) 939-8094 

Connecticut Department of Labor

200 Folly Brook Boulevard

Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109

Commissioner (860) 566-5123 Fax: (860) 566-1520

Conn-OSHA

38 Wolcott Hill Road

Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109

Director (860) 263-6900 Fax: (860) 263-6940 

Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

830 Punchbowl Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Director (808) 586-8844 Fax: (808) 586-9099

Indiana Department of Labor

State Office Building

402 West Washington Street, Room W195

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2751

Commissioner (317) 232-2378 Fax: (317) 233-3790

Deputy Commissioner (317) 233-3605 

Fax: (317) 233-3790 

Iowa Division of Labor

1000 E. Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0209

Commissioner (515) 281-3447 Fax: (515) 281-4698

Administrator (515) 281-3469 Fax: (515) 281-7995 

Kentucky Department of Labor

1047 U.S. Highway 127 South, Suite 4

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Commissioner (502) 564-3070 Fax: (502) 564-5387

Executive Director, Office of Occupational Safety & Health

(502) 564-3070 Fax: (502) 564-1682 

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

1100 North Eutaw Street, Room 613

Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2206

Commissioner (410) 767-2241 Fax: (410) 767-2986

Assistant Commissioner, MOSH (410) 767-2190 

Fax: (410) 333-7747 

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth

Robert Swanson, Acting Director

Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration

P.O. Box 30643

Lansing, MI 48909-8143

Director (517) 322-1814 Fax: (517) 322-1775

Deputy Director for Enforcement (517) 322-1817 

Fax: (517) 322-1775 

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

443 Lafayette Road

St. Paul, Minnesota 55155

Commissioner (651) 284-5010 Fax: (651) 282-5405

Assistant Commissioner (651) 284-5371 

Fax: (651) 282-2527

Administrative Director, OSHA Management Team

(651) 284-5372 Fax: (651) 297-2527 

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations

400 West King Street, Suite 400

Carson City, Nevada 89703

Administrator (775) 684-7260 Fax: (775) 687-6305

Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement 

Section (OSHES)

1301 N. Green Valley Parkway

Henderson, Nevada 89014

Chief Administrative Officer (702) 486-9168 

Fax: (702) 486-9020

[Las Vegas (702) 687-5240]

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce

Development

Office of Public Employees Occupational Safety & Health

(PEOSH)

1 John Fitch Plaza

P.O. Box 386

Trenton, NJ 08625-0386

Acting Commissioner (609) 292-2975 Fax: (609) 633-9271

Assistant Commissioner (609) 292-2313 Fax: (609) 695-1314

Director, PSOSH (609) 292-0501 Fax: (609) 292-3749

Director, Occupational Health Service (609) 984-1843 

Fax: (609) 984-0849

New Mexico Environment Department

1190 St. Francis Drive, Suite 4050

P.O. Box 26110

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502

Secretary (505) 827-2850 Fax: (505) 827-2836

Bureau Chief (505) 476-8700 Fax: (505) 476-8734 

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

53
54

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

New York Department of Labor

New York Public Employee Safety and Health Program

State Office Campus Building 12, Room 158

Albany, New York 12240

Commissioner (518) 457-2741 Fax: (518) 457-6908

Director, Division of Safety and Health

(518) 457-3518 Fax: (518) 457-1519

Program Manager (518) 457-1263 Fax: (518) 457-5545 

North Carolina Department of Labor

4 West Edenton Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1092

Commissioner (919) 733-0359 Fax: (919) 733-1092

Deputy Commissioner, OSH Director (919) 807-2861 

Fax: (919) 807-2855

OSH Assistant Director (919) 807-2863 Fax: (919) 807-2856 

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division

Department of Consumer and Business Services

350 Winter Street, NE, Room 430

Salem, Oregon 97301-3882

Administrator (503) 378-3272 Fax: (503) 947-7461

Deputy Administrator (503) 378-3272 Fax: (503) 947-7461

Special Assistant for Federal & External Affairs 

(503) 378-3272 Fax: (503) 947-7461

Puerto Rico Department of Labor

Prudencio Rivera Martínez Building

505 Muñoz Rivera Avenue

Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918

Secretary (787) 754-2119 Fax: (787) 753-9550

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health

(787) 756-1100 / (787) 754-2171 Fax: (787) 767-6051 

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and

Regulation

Koger Office Park, Kingstree Building

110 Centerview Drive

PO Box 11329

Columbia, South Carolina 29211

Director (803) 896-4300 Fax: (803) 896-4393

Administrator (803) 896-7665 Fax: (803) 896-7670

Office of Voluntary Programs (803) 896-7744 

Fax: (803) 896-7750 

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce

Development

710 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0659

Commissioner (615) 741-2582 Fax: (615) 741-5078

Program Director (615) 741-2793 Fax: (615) 741-3325 

Utah Labor Commission

160 East 300 South, 3rd Floor

PO Box 146650

Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6650

Commissioner (801) 530-6901 Fax: (801) 530-7906

Administrator (801) 530-6898 Fax: (801) 530-6390 

Vermont Department of Labor

National Life Building - Drawer 20

Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3401

Commissioner (802) 828-2288 Fax: (802) 828-2748

VOSHA Compliance Program Manager (802) 828-2765

Fax: (802) 828-2195 

Virgin Islands Department of Labor

3012 Golden Rock

Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820-4660

Commissioner (340) 773-1994 Fax: (340) 773-1858

Assistant Commissioner (340) 772-1315 

Fax: (340) 772-4323

Program Director (340) 772-1315 Fax: (340) 772-4323 

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry

Powers-Taylor Building

13 South 13th Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

Commissioner (804) 786-2377 Fax: (804) 371-6524

Director, Safety Compliance, VOSHA (804) 786-2391 Fax:

(804) 371-6524

Director, Office of Legal Support (804) 786-9873 Fax: (804)

786-8418 

Washington Department of Labor and Industries

General Administration Building

PO Box 44001

Olympia, Washington 98504-4001

7273 Linderson Way SW

Tumwater, WA 98501-5414

Director (360) 902-4200 Fax: (360) 902-4202

Assistant Director [PO Box 44600]

(360) 902-5495 Fax: (360) 902-5529

Program Manager, Federal-State Operations 

[PO Box 44600]

(360) 902-5430 Fax: (360) 902-5529 

Wyoming Department of Employment

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Division

Cheyenne Business Center

1510 East Pershing Boulevard

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002

Administrator (307) 777-7700 Fax: (307) 777-5524

OSHA Program Manager (307) 777-7786 Fax: (307) 777-

3646

Note: the Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Virgin

Islands plans cover public sector (State and Local

Government) employment only. 
D. OSHA CONSULTATION PROJECT DIRECTORY

(For the most current contact information, please go to:

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult_ 

directory.html)

Alabama

Safe State Program

University of Alabama

432 Martha Parham West

Box 870388

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487

(205) 348-3033

Director

FAX: (205) 348-3049 

Alaska

Consultation Section

ADOL/AKOSH

3301 Eagle Street-Suite 305

Anchorage, Alaska 99503-4149

Mailing:

Post Office Box 107022

Anchorage, Alaska 99510

(907) 269-4957

Chief of Consultation and Training

FAX: (907) 269-4950

Arizona

Consultation and Training

Div. of Occupational Safety & Health

Industrial Commission of Arizona

2675 East Broadway Road

Tucson, Arizona 85716

(520) 628-5478

Project Manager

FAX: (520) 322-8008

Arkansas

OSHA Consultation

Arkansas Department of Labor 

10421 West Markham

Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

(501) 682-4522

Labor Safety Admin.

FAX: (501) 682-4532

California

CAL/OSHA Consultation Service

2424 Arden Way, Suite 485

Sacramento, California 95825

(916) 263-5765

Program Manager

FAX: (916) 263-5760

Colorado

Colorado State University 

Health & Safety Consultation

Department of Environmental and Radiological Health

Sciences 

1681 Campus Delivery

Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1681

(970) 491-6151

Project Manager

FAX: (970) 491-7778

Connecticut

Connecticut Department of Labor

Div. of Occupational Safety & Health

38 Wolcott Hill Road

Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109

(860) 263-6901

7(c)(1) Project Manager

FAX: (860) 263-6940

Delaware

Delaware Department of Labor

Occupational Safety &Health

Division of Industrial Affairs

4425 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19802

(302) 761-8198

Deputy Director 

FAX: (302) 761-6602

District of Columbia

Office of Occupational Safety and Health

D. C. Dept of Employment Services 

64 New York Avenue, N.E., Room 2106 

Washington, D.C. 20002 

(202) 671-1800

Safety Supervisor

FAX: (202) 673-2380

Florida

University of South Florida 

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

College of Public Health

13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard

MDC 56

Tampa, Florida 33612-3805

(813) 927-5347

Associate Director

FAX: (813) 974-8270

(866) 273-1105

Georgia

21(d) Onsite Consultation Program

Georgia Institute of Technology

430 10th Street, NW

North Building

Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0837

(404) 894-8276

Program Manager

FAX: (404) 894-8275

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

55
56

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration

Guam

Guam Department of Labor 

OSHA On-site Consultation Division

414 W. Soledad Avenue, 8th Floor

GCIC Building

Hagatna, Guam 96910

Mailing:

Post Office Box 9970

Tamuning, Guam 96931

(671) 475-7069

Project Manager

FAX: (671) 475-7070

Hawaii

HI DOL & Industrial Relations

Consultation and Training Branch

830 Punchbowl Street-Room 423

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

(808) 586-9078

OSH Business Safety Facilitator

FAX: (808) 586-9099 

Idaho

Idaho OSHA Consultation Program

Boise State University

1910 University Drive

M.S. 1835-College of Health Sciences

Boise, Idaho 83725-1835

(208) 426-3795

Project Manager

FAX: (208) 426-2199

Illinois

Illinois On-site Consultation

Department of Commerce & 

Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Division of Industrial Services

State of Illinois Center, Suite 3-400

100 West Randolph Street

Chicago, Illinois 60601

(312) 814-2337, (800)972-4216

Project Manager

FAX: (312) 814-7238

Indiana

Indiana Department of Labor

INSafe – On-Site Consultation Program

402 West Washington Street

Room W195

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2287

(317) 232-2655

Deputy Commissioner

FAX: (317) 232-3790

Iowa

Iowa Workforce Development

Division of Labor Services

Bureau of Consultation and Education

1000 East Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

(515) 281-7629

Project Manager

FAX: (515) 281-5522

Kansas

Kansas Department of Labor

Kansas Consultation Project

800 SW Jackson Street-Suite 1500

Topeka, Kansas 66612-1227

(785) 296-6325

Project Manager

FAX: (785) 296-1775

Kentucky

Division of Education and Training

Kentucky OSH Program

Kentucky Labor Cabinet

1047 U.S. Highway 127, South

Suite 4

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

(502) 564-3070

Director

FAX: (505) 827-4422

Louisiana

21(d) Consultation Program

Louisiana Department of Labor

1001 North 23rd Street, Rm. 421 Annex

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804

Mailing:

Post Office Box 94094

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9094

(225) 342-9601

Consultation Project Manager

FAX: (225) 342-5158

Maine

Maine Bureau of Labor Standards

Workplace Safety & Health Division

#45 State House Station 

Augusta, Maine 04333-0045

(207) 624-6400

Director

FAX: (207) 624-6449

Maryland

MOSH Consultation Services

Montgomery Park Business Center 

1827 Washington Boulevard 

Baltimore, Maryland 21230 

(410) 537-4500

Project Manager

FAX: (410) 537-4518

Massachusetts

MA Department of Labor 

Division of Occupational Safety

1001 Watertown Street

West Newton, Massachusetts 02465

(617) 969-7177

Project Manager

FAX: (617) 727-4581
Michigan

Department of Labor and Economic Growth 

Bureau of Safety & Occupational Regulation 

Consultation, Education and Training 

7150 Harris Drive, Post Office Box 30643

Lansing, Michigan 48909-8413

(517) 322-1809

Assistant Chief

FAX: (517) 322-1374

Minnesota

MN Department of Labor & Industry

Workplace Safety Consultation Division

443 LaFayette Road North

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

(651) 284-5060

Consultation Director

FAX: (651) 284-5739

Mississippi

Mississippi State University

Center for Safety and Health

2151 Highway 18, Suite B

Brandon, Mississippi 39042

(601) 825-0783

Director

FAX: (601) 825-6609

Missouri

Onsite Consultation Program

Division of Labor Standards

Dept. of Labor & Industrial Relations

3315 West Truman Boulevard

Post Office Box 449

Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

(573) 751-3403

Project Manager

FAX: (573) 751-3721

Montana

Department of Labor & Industry

Occupational Safety & Health Bureau

1625 11th Avenue

Post Office Box 1728

Helena, Montana 59601

(406) 444-6418

Project Manager

FAX: (406) 444-9396

Nebraska

Nebraska Workforce Development

Office of Safety and Labor Standards

State Office Building, Lower Level

Post Office Box 95024

301 Centennial Mall, South

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5024

(402) 471-4717

Project Manager

FAX: (402) 471-5039

Nevada

Safety, Consultation & Training Section

Division of Industrial Relations

Department of Business & Industry

1301 North Green Valley Parkway #200

Henderson, Nevada 89074

(702) 486-9159

Chief Admin. Officer

FAX: (702) 990-0362

New Hampshire

NH Department of Environmental Services

29 Hazen Drive-Post Office Box 95

Concord, New Hampshire 03302-0095

(603) 271-2024

21(d) Project Manager

FAX: (603) 271-2667

New Jersey

New Jersey Department of Labor

and Workforce Development

1 John Fitch Plaza

Post Office Box 386

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0386

(609) 292-0501

Director 

FAX: (609) 984-5706

(609) 984-0785

Project Manager

FAX: (609) 292-4409

New Mexico

New Mexico Environment Department

Occupational Health & Safety Bureau

525 Marquez Plaza

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502

(505) 827-4230 

Program Manager 

FAX: (505) 827-4422

New York

Division of Safety and Health

State Office Building Campus

Building 12, Room 168

Albany, New York 12240

(518) 457-2238

Program Manager

FAX: (518) 457-3454

North Carolina

NC Department of Labor-OSHA Division

Bureau of Consultative Services

111 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Mailing:

1101 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1101

(919) 807-2905

Bureau Chief

FAX: (919) 807-2902

S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

57
North Dakota

ND Occupational Safety & Health Consultation-Bismarck

State College Corporate & Continuing Education 

1815 Shaffer Street 

Bismarck, North Dakota 58501 

Mailing:

Post Office Box 5587

Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5587

(701) 224-5778

Program Manager

FAX: (701) 224-5763

Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

CNMI Department of Labor

CNMI-OSHA Consultation

Post Office Box 10007

2nd Floor-Afetnas Building, San Antonio

Saipan, MP 96950

Ohio

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

OSHA On-Site Consultation Program

13430 Yarmouth Drive

Pickerington, Ohio 43147

(670) 236-0989

Secretary of Labor

FAX: (670) 664-3158

(614) 466-7082

(800) 282-1425

Project Manager

FAX: (614) 644-3133

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Department of Labor

OSHA Division

4001 North Lincoln Boulevard

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-5212

(405) 528-1500 ext. 271

Director, OSHA Div.

FAX: (405) 557-1214

Oregon

Oregon OSHA Consultation/Services

Department of Consumer & Business 

350 Winter Street, N.E., Room 430

Salem, Oregon 97301-3882

(503) 378-3272

Project Manager

FAX: (503) 947-7462

Pennsylvania

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Walsh Hall-Room 210

302 East Walk

Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705-1087

(724) 357-2396

Project Manager

FAX: (724) 357-2385

Puerto Rico

PR Occupational Safety and Health Admin.

Dept. of Labor & Human Resources

21st Floor

505 Munoz Rivera Avenue

Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918

(787) 754-2171

Assistant Secretary 

FAX: (787) 767-6051

Rhode Island

OSH Consultation Program

Div. of Occup. Health & Radiation Ctrl.

Rhode Island Department of Health

3 Capitol Hill, Cannon Bldg-Rm. 206 

Providence, Rhode Island 02908

(401) 222-2438

Project Manager

FAX: (401) 222-2456

South Carolina

Office of OSHA Voluntary Programs

SC Department of Labor

Licensing & Regulation

110 Centerview Drive

P.O. Box 11329

Columbia, South Carolina 29211-1329

(803) 896-7744

Acting Administrator

FAX: (803) 896-7750

South Dakota

South Dakota State University

Engineering Extension, West Hall 118

Box 510

907 Harvey Dunn Street

Brookings, South Dakota 57007-0597

(605) 688-4101

Director

FAX: (605) 688-6290

Tennessee

OSHA Consultative Services Div.

Tennessee Department of Labor

Andrew Johnson Tower, 3rd Floor

710 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0659

(615) 741-7155

Program Manager

FAX: (615) 532-2997

Texas

Texas Workers Compensation Commission

Workers Health and Safety Division

7551 Metro Center Drive-Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78744-1609

(512) 804-4640, (800) 687-7080

Project Manager 

FAX: (512) 804-4641

58

Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration
S M A L L E N T I TY C O M P L I A N C E G U I D E F O R T H E 

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM STANDARDS

59

Utah

State of Utah

OSHA Consultation Program

160 East 300 South, Third Floor

Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6650

(801) 530-6855

Project Manager

FAX : (801) 530-6992

Vermont

Div. of Occupational Safety & Health

Vermont Dept. of Labor & Industry

National Life Building, Drawer #20

Montepilier, Vermont 05602-3401

Mailing:

Post Office Box 231

Hyde Park, Vermont 05655

(802) 888-0620

Project Director

FAX: (802) 888-2598

Virginia

VA Department of Labor & Industry

Occupational Safety and Health

Training and Consultation

13 South 13th Street

Powers-Taylor Building-Suite 319

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 786-6613

Program Manager

FAX: (804) 786-8418

Director

FAX: (804) 786-6359

Virgin Islands

University of the Virgin Islands

Community Engagement & Lifelong Learning

#2 John Brewer’s Bay

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00803

(340) 693-1101

Program Manager

FAX: (340) 693-1115

Washington

WA Department of Labor & Industries

WISHA Services Division

7273 Linderson Way, SW

Tumwater, Washington 98501-5414

Mailing:

Post Office Box 44640

Olympia, Washington 98504-4640

(360) 902-5554

Program Manager

FAX: (360) 902-5459

West Virginia

West Virginia Department of Labor

Capitol Complex Bldg #6, Room B-749

1800 East Washington Street

Charleston, West Virginia 25305

(304) 558-7890

Project Manager

FAX: (304) 558-2415

Wisconsin (Health)

WI OSHA Health Consultation Program

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Environmental Health Division

2601 Agriculture Drive

Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7996

Mailing:

Post Office Box 7996

Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7996

(608) 226-5239 or 40

Director

FAX: (608) 226-5249

Wisconsin (Safety)

Department of Commerce 

Division of Safety & Buildings

WI Safety &Consultation Bureau 

Southeast Regional State Office Building

141 NW Barstow Street 

Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188-3789

(262) 521-5198

1-800-947-0553

Admin. Manager

FAX: (262) 521-5369

Wyoming

Wyoming Workers’ Safety

1510 East Pershing Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002

(307) 777-7786

Program Manager

FAX: (307) 777-3646

www.osha.gov