OSHA's Hexavalent Chromium standard, 29 CFR 1910.1026, limits worker exposure to chromium (VI) compounds to a permissible exposure limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air (5 µg/m³) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. It sets an action level of 2.5 µg/m³ and requires exposure determination, engineering controls, respiratory protection, hygiene practices, medical surveillance, training and recordkeeping.
Hexavalent chromium, also called Cr(VI) or hex chrome, is a known human carcinogen. Inhaling it can cause lung cancer and damage the nose, throat and lungs, and skin contact can cause ulcers and allergic dermatitis.
What Is the Hexavalent Chromium Standard?
OSHA issued its Cr(VI) standards in 2006, lowering the previous exposure limit by a factor of ten. There are three versions: general industry at 29 CFR 1910.1026, construction at 1926.1126 and shipyards at 1915.1026. This page focuses on general industry.
Who Must Comply?
The standard applies to occupational exposures to chromium (VI) in all forms and compounds, with limited exceptions. Common sources include:
- Welding and cutting on stainless steel and other chromium-containing metals
- Chrome electroplating and anodizing
- Applying or removing chromate-containing paints and coatings
- Producing chromate pigments, dyes and chemicals
- Steel mills, foundries and refractory work
Exposures from portland cement are excluded, as are cases where objective data show a material or process cannot release Cr(VI) at or above 0.5 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA under any expected conditions of use.
Key Requirements
Exposure limit and action level
No employee may be exposed above 5 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA. The action level of 2.5 µg/m³ triggers periodic monitoring and medical surveillance.
Exposure determination
Employers must determine each employee's exposure using one of two options:
- Scheduled monitoring: initial personal sampling of representative employees. If results are below the action level, monitoring may stop. At or above the action level, repeat at least every six months. Above the PEL, repeat at least every three months.
- Performance-oriented option: determine exposure using any combination of air monitoring, historical data and objective data that accurately characterizes exposures.
Employers must notify affected employees of exposure determination results in writing or by posting within 15 work days, and must describe corrective actions when exposures exceed the PEL. Employees must be offered the opportunity to observe monitoring.
Regulated areas
Where exposure is, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the PEL, the employer must establish a regulated area, demarcate it and limit access to authorized persons.
Methods of compliance
Employers must use engineering and work practice controls, such as local exhaust ventilation, fume extraction, process enclosure and substitution, to reduce exposure to or below the PEL. If a process or task does not result in exposure above the PEL for 30 or more days per year, the employer may use respirators instead of engineering controls for that work. Rotating employees to keep them below the PEL is not permitted.
Respiratory protection and protective clothing
Respirators are required where controls cannot reduce exposure to the PEL, during maintenance and repair, and in emergencies, under a respiratory protection program. Where skin or eye contact can occur, employers must provide protective clothing and equipment at no cost and handle contaminated clothing safely.
Hygiene and housekeeping
Change rooms, washing facilities and clean eating areas are required where employees must wear protective clothing. Surfaces must be kept as free as practicable of Cr(VI). Dry sweeping and compressed air may not be used for cleaning unless other methods are not effective.
Medical surveillance
Medical surveillance must be made available at no cost to employees exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year, employees showing signs or symptoms of Cr(VI) exposure, and employees exposed in an emergency. Exams are required within 30 days of initial assignment, annually, after signs or symptoms, after an emergency and at termination. Exams include a medical and work history and examination of the skin and respiratory tract.
Communication, training and records
Employers must include Cr(VI) in their hazard communication program and train employees on the standard's contents and medical surveillance. Exposure records must be kept for at least 30 years, and medical records for the duration of employment plus 30 years, as required by OSHA's records access standard.
Penalties and Enforcement
OSHA enforces the standard through inspections in welding, plating and coating operations, and exposures above the PEL are often cited as serious. Penalties are adjusted annually for inflation. Common findings include no initial exposure determination, missing medical surveillance, inadequate ventilation and poor housekeeping.
Common Compliance Mistakes
- Assuming stainless steel welding is too infrequent to need monitoring.
- Relying on respirators when exposures exceed the PEL for 30 or more days a year.
- Not notifying employees of sampling results within 15 work days.
- Dry sweeping or blowing off dust that contains Cr(VI).
- Allowing eating or drinking in regulated areas.
How to Comply: Step by Step
- Identify sources. List processes involving chromium-containing metals, coatings or chemicals, using safety data sheets.
- Determine exposure. Choose scheduled monitoring or the performance-oriented option and document results.
- Notify employees. Share results within 15 work days.
- Control exposure. Install fume extraction, enclosures or substitutes to stay below the PEL.
- Set up regulated areas. Mark and restrict areas above the PEL.
- Provide PPE and hygiene. Supply respirators, clothing, change rooms and washing facilities.
- Run medical surveillance. Enroll eligible employees and track exam due dates.
- Train and keep records. Train employees and retain exposure and medical records.
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Risk Assessment module helps teams document exposure assessments for welding, plating and coating tasks, and the Safety Data Sheets library makes chromium-containing products easy to find. Compliance Management tracks monitoring schedules and medical surveillance due dates, and Training Management records Cr(VI) training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OSHA PEL for hexavalent chromium?
5 µg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an action level of 2.5 µg/m³.
Does welding stainless steel expose workers to hexavalent chromium?
Yes. Welding and cutting on stainless steel and other chromium alloys can generate Cr(VI) fume, and exposure must be evaluated.
When is medical surveillance required?
For employees exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year, employees with signs or symptoms, and employees exposed in an emergency.
How long must Cr(VI) records be kept?
Exposure records for at least 30 years, and medical records for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
