Metals · CAS Database
Cadmium
Cadmium (CAS 7440-43-9) — Metal used in plating and batteries. Get the SDS and OSHA HazCom guidance you need to store, label, and handle it safely on the job site.
Verified vs OSHA sources · October 5, 2026
CAS Registry Number CAS 7440-43-9 · also known as Cd
Overview
Metal used in plating and batteries
Cadmium on the job site
Cadmium is the sleeper that has actually killed welders. It appears in cadmium-plated hardware and steel and, critically, in some silver-brazing filler rods. Heating it — cutting plated steel, or brazing with a cadmium-bearing rod — releases a fume with almost no immediate warning, but a single day of brazing in a closed space has caused fatal chemical pneumonitis (delayed lung edema) hours later. Chronically, cadmium is a carcinogen and destroys the kidneys.
Construction cadmium is governed by 29 CFR 1926.1127 (PEL 5 µg/m³, action level 2.5). The two strongest controls are substitution and ventilation: use cadmium-free braze alloy whenever possible, and never braze or cut cadmium-bearing material in a still, enclosed space — use local exhaust and a respirator matched to the task. Because the acute effect is delayed, a welder can feel fine at quitting time and be in serious trouble that night; treat any suspected cadmium exposure as urgent.
Key takeaways
- Cadmium fume from brazing/cutting can cause fatal delayed lung edema from a single uncontrolled session.
- Substitute cadmium-free braze rod and never braze/cut cadmium-bearing metal in a still, enclosed space.
- Follow 1926.1127 (PEL 5 µg/m³); the acute effect is delayed — treat suspected exposure as urgent even if the welder feels fine.
Field guidance for planning and training — not a substitute for the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, which controls the exposure limit, PPE, and handling for your specific product.
OSHA Exposure Limits
OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) and secondary limit for Cadmium on a US construction site. Where a substance-specific 1926 standard applies, its codified limit is shown; otherwise the figure comes from Table 1 to 29 CFR 1926.55, the construction air-contaminants table. Where 1926.55 does not list the substance, the Safety Data Sheet (Section 8) controls.
| Limit | Value | Basis / citation |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA — 29 CFR 1926.1127(c)/(d)) | 5 µg/m³ | 29 CFR 1926.1127 |
| Action level | 2.5 µg/m³ | Triggers exposure monitoring / medical surveillance |
| Averaging period | 8-hour TWA — 29 CFR 1926.1127(c)/(d) | Compare with ACGIH TLV / NIOSH REL — often more protective than the OSHA PEL |
Many OSHA PELs date to 1971 and may be less protective than current ACGIH/NIOSH values; always check the manufacturer SDS (Section 8) for the controlling limit and engineering-control guidance. Not legal advice.
GHS Classification
Physical Properties
Where Cadmium shows up on the job
Trades that commonly handle Cadmium, each with an OSHA HazCom guide built for the chemicals and tasks on that kind of site:
OSHA & HazCom Compliance Requirements
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use Cadmium must:
- •Maintain an accessible SDS for Cadmium (readily accessible during each work shift, 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8))
- •Label all containers with GHS-compliant labels (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1) shipped / 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6) workplace)
- •Include it in the workplace chemical inventory
- •Train employees on hazards before initial assignment
- •Retain employee exposure and medical records per 29 CFR 1910.1020 — 30-year retention applies to exposure/medical records, not to SDSs generically
Substance-specific standard: Cadmium
In addition to HazCom, this chemical is regulated under 29 CFR 1926.1127. Construction cadmium exposure (welding/cutting cadmium-plated metal, brazing) is governed by the substance-specific standard 29 CFR 1926.1127 in addition to HazCom.
Cadmium has its own section in Subpart Z of 29 CFR 1926 (1926.1127). The limits and what each standard requires, side by side: OSHA substance-specific standards.
HazCom (1910.1200 / construction 1926.59) covers labels, SDSs, and training only — it does not impose chemical storage segregation. Flammable & combustible liquid storage for construction is 29 CFR 1926.152; segregation of incompatibles is planned from SDS Sections 7 and 10. Not legal advice; state-plan states may have stricter rules.
Handling & Secondary-Container Labeling
When you transfer Cadmium into a workplace (secondary) container, OSHA gives two compliant options under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6):
- •(f)(6)(i): full GHS label elements (as on the shipped container)
- •(f)(6)(ii): product identifier + words/pictures/symbols (or combination) that provide AT LEAST general information on the hazards
There is no volume/size cutoff for secondary containers — the ≤100 ml / ≤3 ml accommodations (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(12) (added by the HCS 2024 final rule)) apply only to the manufacturer's shipped container. A portable container filled for the immediate use of the worker who fills it needs no label (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8)).
GHS Hazard Classification under OSHA HCS
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard adopts the GHS (primarily GHS Revision 7 (HCS 2024)). It requires 8 hazard pictograms (Appendix C, Figure C.1). The Environment pictogram (GHS09) is not required by OSHA — Not in App C; outside OSHA jurisdiction; voluntary.
The 8 OSHA-required pictograms:
For flammable liquids, OSHA classifies by flash point and boiling point (App B.6.1 / 1910.106(a)):
- •Category 1: FP < 73.4°F AND BP <= 95°F
- •Category 2: FP < 73.4°F AND BP > 95°F
- •Category 3: FP >= 73.4°F AND <= 140°F
- •Category 4: FP > 140°F AND <= 199.4°F
The specific GHS classification of Cadmium comes from its Safety Data Sheet (Section 2). Use the live classification panel above and the manufacturer SDS to confirm pictograms and categories.
HCS 2024 Update Deadlines
Under the Hazard Communication Standard 2024 update (aligned primarily GHS Revision 7):
- •May 19, 2026 — manufacturers, importers, and distributors update substance labels & SDSs (1910.1200(j)(2)(i))
- •November 20, 2026 — employers update workplace labeling, the written program & training (1910.1200(j)(2)(ii))
During the interim, parts may comply with the 2012 HCS, the 2024 HCS, or both.
Quick Actions
Put Cadmium on your written inventory, print the workplace label your containers need, and keep your supplier’s sheet reachable on the jobsite.
The safety data sheet for your product comes from the supplier who sold it to you — no public registry can provide it. For the underlying chemistry, the public record is on PubChem.
Where this fits in your HazCom program
- SDS management — collecting the sheet, keeping it current, and making it readable during each work shift.
- GHS labels & workplace labeling — what has to appear on the shipped container, and what a secondary container needs instead.
Free Compliance Tools for Cadmium
Also on a welding & metalwork job
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cadmium (CAS 7440-43-9)?
Metal used in plating and batteries
What are the OSHA HazCom requirements for Cadmium on a construction site?
For construction work, Hazard Communication is governed by 29 CFR 1926.59 (adopts 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employers who use Cadmium must maintain an accessible Safety Data Sheet (SDS), label containers with GHS-compliant labels, include the chemical in the workplace chemical inventory, and train workers on its hazards before initial assignment.
Is there a substance-specific OSHA standard for Cadmium?
Yes. In addition to HazCom, Cadmium is regulated under 29 CFR 1926.1127. The 8-hour TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 5 µg/m³, with an action level of 2.5 µg/m³. Construction cadmium exposure (welding/cutting cadmium-plated metal, brazing) is governed by the substance-specific standard 29 CFR 1926.1127 in addition to HazCom.
What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for Cadmium?
OSHA's 8-hour time-weighted-average PEL for Cadmium is 5 µg/m³, with an action level of 2.5 µg/m³ (29 CFR 1926.1127). Confirm the exposure limit applicable to your task against Section 8 of the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet.
When does the updated HCS 2024 labeling apply to Cadmium?
Under the Hazard Communication Standard 2024 update (aligned primarily GHS Revision 7), chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors must update substance labels and SDSs by May 19, 2026, and employers must update workplace labeling, the written program, and training for substances by November 20, 2026. During the interim, parties may comply with the 2012 HCS, the 2024 HCS, or both.
How do I label a secondary (workplace) container of Cadmium?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6) you have two options: (i) the full GHS label elements as on the shipped container, or (ii) the product identifier plus words, pictures, symbols, or a combination that provide at least general hazard information. There is no volume/size cutoff for secondary containers. A portable container filled for the immediate use of the worker who fills it does not require a label (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8)).
How long must SDS and exposure records for Cadmium be kept?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1020, 30-year retention applies to employee exposure and medical records (medical records: duration of employment plus 30 years) — not to SDSs generically. Where an SDS is not retained, a record of the chemical's identity, where it was used, and when must be kept for at least 30 years.
Where can I find the SDS for Cadmium?
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(6) and (g)(7), the manufacturer, importer or distributor that sold you Cadmium must send its Safety Data Sheet with the first shipment, and again with the first shipment after the sheet is updated. HazComFast keeps the sheets you collect in one inventory per jobsite, searchable by product, manufacturer or CAS number, and your jobsite's SDS load onto the phone on their own.
Sources & Primary References
Regulatory data on this page is sourced from HazComFast's verified regulatory module (29 CFR 1926.59 / 1910.1200 and substance-specific 1926 standards), last verified October 5, 2026 against eCFR, OSHA.gov, and the Federal Register. Physical-property data comes from PubChem. Confirm it against the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
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