The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board develops rules to insure safe workplaces in California. Recognizing that lead exposure occurs in many different occupations, Cal/OSHA has adopted two lead standards:
Both Standards require employers to reduce worker exposure. Worker protection is achieved through the use of:
Engineering controls, such as mechanical ventilation, reduce exposure when lead is in the air. For example, ventilation reduces exposure when lead is melted to make fishing weights. Work practice controls are strategies for having workers go about their job more safely. An effective work practice control is a company policy of no eating, drinking and smoking in the work area. Such a policy serves to prevent the two types of lead exposure breathing and swallowing.
Workers in general industry and construction must also be trained on lead-safe work practices. In construction work on residential and public buildings, Cal/OSHA requires formal training and state-certification for highly exposed workers and their supervisors.
Respirators and other protective equipment will reduce lead intake when other controls are insufficient or not feasible. Under both Standards, different types of respirators are required depending on the measured amount of lead in the air.
A lead medical monitoring program is required by both Cal/OSHA Lead Standards. Medical monitoring includes periodic blood testing to measure lead levels in a worker's body and a medical examination. Medical monitoring is the best way to assess the effectiveness of exposure reduction efforts.
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