Abstract
A process for the cadmium metalizing of aircraft parts was found to cause hazardous exposures to cadmium fume. The problem and the control methods are described. The metalizing is done in a vacuum chamber in which cadmium pellets are vaporized by electrical heaters. The exposures occurred during opening the chamber and during the unloading, cleaning and reloading cycles. Before control, cadmium concentrations ranged from 4.10 to 37.96 mg/m3. After decontamination of the area and initiation of controls, concentrations were below 0.1 mg/m3, except for the loading and unloading cycles during which respirators are required.