Thirteen years after it was originally proposed, a revised standard for lead exposure to workers was approved on February 15, 2024 by the California OSHA Standards Board. It is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2025 and businesses have one year to put it into place. It covers both general industry and construction.
The new standard lowers the Action Level, the limit where a lead program is required, from 30 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 2 ug/m3. The Permissible Exposure Limit, the level that is not to be exceeded, changes from 50 ug/m3 to 10 ug/m3. It also lowers the limit for medical removal from a blood lead level of 40 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) to 10 ug/dl. It also establishes additional hygiene requirements and continues requirements for air sampling, medical surveillance, training, respiratory protection, protective clothing and equipment, housekeeping, and records.
Common symptoms of overexposure to lead include loss of appetite, metallic taste in the mouth, anxiety, constipation, nausea, pallor, excessive tiredness, weakness, insomnia, headache, nervous irritability, muscle and joint pain or soreness, fine tremors, numbness, dizziness, hyperactivity and colic. Chronic exposure may result in damage to blood-forming, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems. Very high levels can cause brain damage and death.
Before implementing this new standard, Cal/OSHA reviewed scientific information from the National Toxicology Program and Environmental Protection Agency. They found that there were sufficient findings that long-term, low-level exposure to lead can cause harmful effects. They also stated that blood lead levels should not exceed 5-10 ug/dl over a working lifetime. NIOSH and other organizations agreed that 5 ug/dl should be defined as an elevated blood lead level for adults.
On June 28, 2022, OSHA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the lead standard. However, under the current political climate, it may take years before there is any significant change to the regulations. State OSHAs including Washington and Michigan are considering or implementing changes similar to California. Although not required, companies that want to better protect their workers should consider following the most stringent standards available.
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