ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Cadmium is a soft, blue-white, malleable, lustrous metal or a grayish-white powder.
Some cadmium compounds may also appear as a brown, yellow or red powdery substance.
Cadmium is a naturally occurring element found in the earth's crust and waters.
Cadmium is found in soil and rock and can be released into rivers and streams through natural erosion processes and volcanic eruptions. In general industry, cadmium is used in many products, including batteries, pigments, metal coatings and plastics.
It is also found in cigarette smoke.
The U.S. Army uses cadmium as a metal coating to enhance corrosion protection on bolts, bosses and other tank components and hardware.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CADMIUM?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cadmium was first discovered in Germany in 1817.
Cadmium was used as a pigment because of its ability to produce brilliant yellow, orange and red colors. In fact, cadmium pigments appeared prominently in the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh in the late 1800s.
Cadmium became an important metal in the industrial revolutions, especially in the production of nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries and as a corrosion-protection coating for iron and steel.
Thomas Edison patented a nickel--cadmium battery in the early 20th Century, a version of which is still in use today.
IS CADMIUM TOXIC?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, cadmium and its compounds are highly toxic and exposure to this metal is known to cause cancer and targets the body's cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive and respiratory systems.
HOW CAN WE CONTROL EXPOSURE?
Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal commonly found in industrial workplaces.
Here at Anniston Army Depot, employees may be exposed to cadmium by breathing in dusts or fumes containing cadmium.
Cadmium or cadmium compounds can also get on the skin, contaminate clothing or food, and be ingested, which is one of the routes of exposure.
The potential for exposure is highest where welding, burning, cutting, sanding, grinding, cleaning out tapped bolt holes and abrasive blasting operations are performed.
The main exposure routes are through inhalation of dust and fumes and the incidental ingestion of dust from contaminated hands, food or cigarettes.
Cadmium-Regulated Areas are established areas where an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, OSHA's permissible expo-sure limit.
Only authorized CRA employees are allowed to enter these spaces.
Additionally, ANAD employees who are exposed to cadmium are enrolled in medical surveillance and require initial and annual training.
Cadmium training highlights controls to reduce exposure to cadmium. One of the most important controls is housekeeping.
FOLLOWING ARE TIPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO CADMIUM:
• Keep dust creation to minimum
• Use a HEPA vacuum to clean work surfaces
• Do not use compressed air to clean area or clothing
• Wear a respirator when using compressed air
• Wash your hands and face before eating, drinking, chewing gum or tobacco, applying cosmetics or lotions, or smoking
• Clean break rooms frequently
• All tools and equipment must be dust free before turning in for repairs
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?
• 29 CFR 1910.1027 Cadmium
• OSHA's informational booklet on cadmium provides a general overview of cadmium exposure and control. OSHA Publication 3136-08R, (2003).
• ANAD Letter of Instruction, MN LOI VII-20, 21 July 2014
• Your supervisor
• Industrial Hygiene at Ext. 6865
• Safety at Ext. 7541
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