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Lead Monitoring | |
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OSHA has issued two standards covering occupational exposure to lead. The general rule was issued in July of 1987 and the rule for the construction industry was issued in May of 1993. All medical surveillance required by the standard summarized in the Table must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician. The differences between the construction industry standard and the general standard reflect the need to protect workers from the intermittent but potentially high levels of lead exposure in the construction industry, particularly in demolition and in removal of leaded paint. Therefore, initiation of medical surveillance, frequency of biological monitoring and medical removal are triggered earlier in the construction standard than the general standard.
| Lead Concentration | Actions Required by OSHA |
| > 30 µg / m3 in air1 | Biological Monitoring: Blood lead / ZPP at least every 6 months2. |
| > 40 µg / 100 g in blood3 | Annual medical exam, biological monitoring: Blood lead / ZPP at least every 2 months until 2 consecutive tests are M 40 µg / 100 g. |
| > 50 µg / 100 g in blood4 | Medical removal, biological monitoring: Blood lead / ZPP at least every month until 2 consecutive tests are < 40 µg / 100 g. |
1. The general lead standard requires medical surveillance when air lead level exceeds 30 (g / m3 for 30 or more days per year. The construction standard requires medical surveillance when air lead level exceeds 30 (g / m3 for any one day per year.
2. The construction standard requires that when air lead level exceeds 30 (g / m3 for 30 or more days per year, biological monitoring must be performed every 2 months for the first 6 months and every 6 months thereafter.
3. To convert (g / 100 ml (dcl) to (g / 100g of blood, multiply by 0.95.
4. The general standard medical removal criteria is based on the average of at least 3 blood tests over 6 months. The construction standard requires removal on each occasion that a blood test is at or above 50 (g / 100g.
Lab Report
Medical Surveillance programs have many objectives. The major reason for participating in such a program is to determine how an employee is handling the exposure to monitored substances in the workplace. The reported levels need be evaluated in total related to the entire person. The instruments used for detection have certain limits and will not report a "0" answer.
The report will give various pieces of information:
Employee name
Dates Sample was received, drawn and reported
Test Performed
Notes related to Test
Reference Range
Questions related to report should be referred to medical department
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