OSHA has developed the Cadmium
Biological Monitoring Advisor to help
protect workers exposed to cadmium, a silver-white metal used in many
industries. Exposure occurs through the smelting and refining of metals or from
air in industrial plants that manufacture batteries, coatings or plastics. It can
cause weakness, fever, headache, chills, sweating and muscular pain. Cadium exposure can
even result in kidney damage and cancer of the lung or prostate. The new tool determines
the biological monitoring and medical surveillance requirements that must be
met under OSHA’s cadmium standard (29
CFR 1910.1027). These requirements include the frequency of additional
monitoring and other mandatory components of the employer’s medical
surveillance program.
The cadmium advisor is intended for use by experienced medical professionals who assess workers’
cadmium exposure. It may also be useful as an educational tool by providing
information on what constitutes overexposure to cadmium and what to do to
prevent exposure on the job. For more
information, click here.