Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001E Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1027(d)(1)(i): Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this section failed to determine if any employee may be exposed to cadmium at or above the action level. On or about November 7, 2023, the employer did not ensure that a determination was conducted for employees conducting welding operations and prep grinders to evaluate exposure to cadmium above the action level. The employees conducting welding operations generate respirable hazards including cadmium fumes from mig welding the trucks. The trucks contain anode bolts that are made of cadmium, which gets released when the bolts are heated to attach a catalytic converter cage to the truck. During sampling it was determined a prep grinder working near the welding operations was exposed to cadmium fumes over the action level and welders who were also sampled were over the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for cadmium. Long term exposure to cadmium over the PEL can cause chronic illnesses including lung disease and cancer.