LEAD

Information for Employers

Lead Exposure Limits: RELs and PELs

The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for lead is a Time Weighted Average of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) over 8-hours.

The required (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for lead is also no greater than 50 µg/m³ averaged over an 8-hour period. The PEL is reduced for shifts longer than 8 hours by the equation PEL = 400/hours worked.

The required (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) action level for lead in general industry and the construction industry is a Time Weighted Average of 30 µg/m³ over 8-hours.

Some studies suggest that the current OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL may be too high to protect against certain health effects. ¹, ²

How You Can Keep Your Workers Safe From Lead

There are certain things that can be applied to all industries to keep workers safe. Certain industries or work environments may require additional measures to keep workers from being exposed to lead.

Survey the workplace for lead-containing items. Conduct exposure monitoring as required by the OSHA Lead Standard. This requires air samples to be taken.
Replace lead-containing products with lead-free or lower lead content products when possible. Where lead-containing products cannot be replaced, train workers on hazards and safe work practices.
Use proper engineering controls to ensure the work area is well-ventilated.
Ensure workers have appropriate personal protective equipment, such as goggles, proper respiratory protection, coveralls, gloves, et cetera as required by the OSHA Standard.
Conduct routine Blood Lead Level testing for workers who are potentially exposed to lead.
Make a lead monitoring program available for workers. The program should consist of biological monitoring and medical surveillance. Such monitoring programs are required by OSHA if employees are found to be exposed at or above the lead action level.
Provide workers with effective lead removal products. Hand washing with standard soap and water is not effective at removing lead residue from hands. ³ NIOSH developed a quick and easy hand wipe technology to let workers know instantly if they have lead on their hands. Now called Full Disclosure®, it was licensed in 2003 and is commercially available from SKC, Inc. NIOSH also developed a decontamination towel, also commercially available, called Hygenall Decontamination Towels, which removes 98% of lead residues from skin.
Mention of a company name does not imply commercial endorsement by NIOSH.
If you have concerns that your workers are being exposed to lead, you may contact NIOSH to have the work environment assessed for free. For more details visit the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation website.
You may also contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Consultation Program , a free consultation service funded by OSHA to find out about potential hazards at your worksites and improve your occupational safety and health management systems.
Refer to OSHA Lead Standards for actions required to ensure your workers are safe. Contact your state OSHA office to see if your state has additional requirements.

Information on OSHA Lead Standards

OSHA Safety and Health Topics: Lead

OSHA Lead Standards: General Industry

OSHA Safety and Health Regulations for Construction: Lead

References

¹ NIOSH Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ABLES/ables-description.html]

² Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) 2009 Position statement: Public health reporting national notification for elevated blood lead levels [http://www.cste.org/ps2009/09-OH-02.pdf] [PDF - 98.5 KB]

³Filon FL, Boeniger M, Maina G, Adami G, Spinelli P, Damian A. [2006]. Skin absorption of inorganic lead (PbO) and the effect of skin cleansers. Journal of Environmental Medicine. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16832226] 48(7): 692-699.