This document discusses occupational health and safety standards for hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI). It outlines the permissible exposure limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over an 8-hour shift. It describes methods of compliance including engineering controls, work practices, protective clothing, and hygiene practices. It also covers how workers can protect themselves, such as using proper personal protective equipment and following housekeeping procedures. Medical surveillance requirements are included for workers exposed over the action level of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

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29 CFR 1910.1026
Hexavalent Chromium, Cr(VI)
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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY STANDARDS
29 CFR 1910.1026
HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM, Cr(VI)
This training has been tailored for:
Armament

2. OVERVIEW
• Introduction
• Exposure Limit
• Methods of Compliance
• How to Protect Yourself
• Medical Surveillance

3. Cr(VI) shall be incorporated in the shop
Hazard Communication program
OVERVIEW
TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION
This training is required for all Armament personnel upon initial assignment and
annually thereafter. Record all shop-specific training on your AF Form 55 or
equivalent.

4. Cr(VI) is a toxic form of the element chromium
Cr(VI) compounds are man-made and widely used in many different industries
WHAT IS CR(VI)?
• Bioenvironmental Engineering has
identified the following sources of
Chromium (VI) in the Armament shop:
• Aircraft Grease, Royco 22
• Corrosion Resistant Coating
OVERVIEW

5. To prevent workers from adverse health effects, the following exposure limits have been
established for Cr(VI):
EXPOSURE LIMIT
• The permissible exposure limit, or PEL, is
5 micrograms per cubic meter (5 µg/m³)
• Over the course of any 8-hour work
shift, the average exposure to Cr(VI)
cannot exceed 5 µg/m³
• The action level, or AL, is 2.5 µg/m³
• The AL triggers additional monitoring
requirements
The PEL and AL are both measures of concentration in the air, and are used to
protect the worker from inhalation hazards. Chromium is not an inhalation hazard
for Armament personnel.

6. Short term – acute
• High levels of exposure in a short amount of time
• Within days of exposure
Long term – chronic
• Years after exposure
Damage the nasal passages
Prolonged dermal exposure
Acute Symptoms and Disease
Irritation to the nose and throat
Allergic skin reaction
Corneal abrasions
Chronic Symptoms and Disease
Lung cancer
Nasal and sinus cancer
Occupational asthma
Permanent eye damage
Damage the nasal passages
Contact dermatitis
Erosion of teeth
Ulceration of the skin
Perforated eardrums
Cr(VI) can cause impairment and disease that is:
EXPOSURE LIMIT

7. ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
Cr(VI) can enter the body through:
• Inhalation (breathe)
• Ingestion (swallow)
It is critically important that you recognize
potential pathways and understand the
measures you can take to protect yourself
It does not matter if a person breathes-in
or swallows Cr(VI), the health effects can
be serious
EXPOSURE LIMIT

8. METHODS OF COMPLIANCE
Employers must use engineering and work practice controls as the primary means
to reduce and maintain employee Cr(VI) airborne exposures at or below the PEL
Controls include:
• Elimination or substitution of the source
• Minimize exposure through engineering controls
• Good work practices and training
• Use personal protective equipment
Which control methods should you use to eliminate
or minimize exposure to Cr(VI) while performing
your work?

9. ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Engineering controls include:
• Substitution
• Using a less toxic material
• Substituting a process
• Isolation
• Enclosing the source of exposure
• Placing a barrier between employees and
the source of exposure
• Ventilation
• Local exhaust systems such as welding
hood or paint booth
METHODS OF COMPLIANCE

10. WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS
Some fundamental work practice controls are:
• Good housekeeping
• Appropriate personal hygiene practices
• Periodic inspection and maintenance of process and control equipment
• Proper procedures to perform a task
• Appropriate supervision to ensure that the proper procedures are followed
METHODS OF COMPLIANCE

11. • Required where Cr(VI) levels exceed the PEL
• Marked to ensure worker know the boundaries
• Workers must not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco/gum, or apply cosmetics (or
carry/store these items) in regulated areas or in areas where skin or eye contact
with Cr(VI) occurs
METHODS OF COMPLIANCE
REGULATED AREAS
There is no need for a regulated area within Armament

12. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Your supervisor will ensure you receive additional work area specific training on the
following topic areas to minimize your exposure to Cr(VI):
• Work Area Specific HAZCOM Training
• PPE when performing work
• Adherence to local industrial housekeeping and hygiene procedures
• Communicate exposure symptoms to your supervisor
immediately
It is important that workers recognize the harmful health effects associated with
Cr(VI) exposure and understand measures they can take to protect themselves

13. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Where a hazard is present from skin or eye contact, personal protective clothing
and equipment shall be provided and used
Examples of appropriate personal protective
equipment may include:
• Coveralls
• Gloves
• Head coverings
• Boots
• Face shields
• Goggles
PPE shall be cleaned and/or replaced as
needed
NOTE: Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) Routine Assessment Letters provide
information on PPE required for health protection
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

14. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Know precisely what protection is needed for each job task
• Certain tasks may only require gloves while others may require a higher
level of protection
• Additional training will be provided on how to properly use and care for
PPE
• If you must change out of your street clothes to use protective clothing
and equipment, you are required to use a designated change room
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

15. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Safe Removal Of Contaminated Clothing
• Employees shall doff contaminated PPE at the end of the work shift or at the
completion of their processes/tasks
• No employee shall remove contaminated PPE from workplace, except for those
employees whose job it is to launder, clean, maintain, or dispose of PPE
• Contaminated PPE shall be stored and transported in sealed, impermeable bags or
closed, impermeable containers
• Employer shall clean, launder, repair and replace all PPE
• Employer shall prohibit the removal of Cr(VI) by shaking PPE or using compressed air to
blow it off
• Employer shall inform any person who launders or cleans PPE of the harmful effects of
Cr(VI)
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

16. HYGIENE AREAS AND PRACTICES
The Cr(VI) standard includes requirements for:
Change rooms
• Separate storage for
PPE/street clothes
• Change rooms not
required for
Armament
Washing facilities
• Readily accessible
• Wash hands/face
• Required before eating,
drinking, smoking
Eating and drinking areas
• Surfaces as free as
practicable of Cr(VI) dust
• Employees do not wear PPE
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

17. HOUSEKEEPING
Engineering controls are designed to reduce airborne hazards (inhalation)
below the PEL, while housekeeping requirements reduce surface dust
accumulation (inhalation and ingestion)
• Surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of Cr(VI) dust
• Spills shall be cleaned promptly
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

18. HOUSEKEEPING
Cleaning methods
• HEPA-filter vacuum surfaces
• Only use dry shoveling, dry sweeping, and dry brushing when HEPA-filtered
vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure to Cr(VI)
have been tried and found not to be effective
• Do not use compressed air
• Handle cleaning equipment in a manner that minimizes the reentry of Cr(VI) into
the workplace
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

19. MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
Medical surveillance will be made available for employees that are:
• Exposed, or may be exposed, at or above the action level (AL) for 30 or more days per
year
• Experiencing signs or symptoms of health effects associated with Cr(VI) exposure
• Exposed in an emergency
Medical surveillance:
• Is a second line of defense
• Enhances worker protection
• When required, must be provided at no cost to workers
• Must be provided at a reasonable time and place
• Employer must pay travel costs and time
Level of Exposure does not require medical surveillance

20. SUMMARY
• Introduction
• Exposure Limit
• Methods of Compliance
• How to Protect Yourself
• Medical Surveillance