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Workers are exposed to lead as a result of the production, use, maintenance, recycling, and disposal of lead material and products. Lead exposure occurs in most industry sectors including construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, remediation and even recreation.
Lead enters the body primarily through inhalation and ingestion. Today, adults are mainly exposed to lead by breathing in lead-containing dust and fumes at work, or from hobbies that involve lead. Lead passes through the lungs into the blood where it can harm many of the body’s organ systems. While inorganic lead does not readily enter the body through the skin, it can enter the body through accidental ingestion (eating, drinking, and smoking) via contaminated hands, clothing, and surfaces. Workers may develop a variety of ailments, such as neurological effects, gastrointestinal effects, anemia, and kidney disease.
OSHA’s requirement applies to all general industry occupational exposure to lead.
Research on workplace lead exposure shows adverse health effects can occur in adults at blood lead levels (BLLs) that are lower than the medical removal levels specified in OSHA’s lead standards. Now the agency is considering a rulemaking to reduce the current BLL triggers in the medical surveillance and medical removal protection provisions of 29 CFR 1910.1025.
OSHA issued a pre-proposal on June 28, 2022, on BLL triggers for medical removal protection; medical surveillance provisions, including triggers and frequency of blood lead monitoring; permissible exposure limit; and ancillary provisions for personal protective equipment, housekeeping, hygiene, and training.
Employers must: