Injury Illness Prevention Plan - Flipbook - Page 152
Health and Safety Program Manual
Teamwrkx
Construction, Inc.
Issue Date: 10/16/23
Revision Date: 10/16/23
Cadmium Exposure
Reference: A-10
What is Cadmium/Physical Properties of Cadmium?
Cadmium (Cd) is a soft, malleable, bluish-white metal found in zinc ores, and to a much lesser extent, in the
cadmium mineral greenockite. Most of the cadmium produced today is obtained from zinc by-products and
recovered from spent nickel-cadmium batteries.
Exposure to Cadmium
Worker exposure to cadmium can occur in all industry sectors but primarily in manufacturing and construction.
Workers may be exposed during the smelting and refining of metals, and manufacturing batteries, plastics,
coatings, and solar panels. The expanding Ni-Cd battery recycling industry is a concern for cadmium exposure.
Electroplating, metal machining, welding, and painting are operations associated with cadmium exposure.
Workers involved in landfill operations, the recycling of electronic parts, or the recycling of plastics may be
exposed to cadmium. Compost workers and waste collectors are also potentially exposed to dust containing
cadmium. The incineration of municipal waste is another source of cadmium exposure.
Worker Health and Cadmium Exposure
Occupational exposure to cadmium can lead to various adverse health effects, including cancer. Acute inhalation
exposure (high levels over a short period of time) to cadmium can result in flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, and
muscle pain) and can damage the lungs. Chronic exposure (low level over an extended period) can result in
kidney, bone, and lung disease. For a comprehensive discussion of cadmium's health effects the company will
ensure that workers are not exposed to levels of cadmium more than specific jurisdictional requirements.
Medical Surveillance Program
The company, as part of their medical surveillance program, will monitor exposure and organize surveillance of
their workers exposed to cadmium by jurisdictional requirements.
Training
The company workers who have the potential to work in environments where cadmium is present will be
provided training on the hazards associated with cadmium sources of cadmium in the workplace and control
measures to prevent/limit worker exposure to cadmium by local jurisdictional requirements.
Competent Persons
The company will ensure a competent person completes all tasks as required by jurisdictional regulations,
including:
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Identify potential and existing cadmium hazards in the workplace