Lead Exposure for Construction

1. Lead Exposure for Construction

2. Health hazards of lead exposure • Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal and a chemical element • Lead can combine with other chemicals to form numerous lead compounds • Lead can enter the body by inhalation and ingestion 1a

3. Health hazards of lead exposure • Only a few lead compounds can be absorbed through the skin • When scattered through the air as a dust, fume, or mist, lead can be inhaled and absorbed through the lungs and upper respiratory tract 1b

4. Health hazards of lead exposure • Inhalation of airborne lead is generally the most important source of occupational lead absorption • Lead also can be absorbed through the digestive system if it enters the mouth and is ingested 1c

5. Health hazards of lead exposure • The lead stored in the tissues can slowly cause irreversible damage to: • individual cells • organs • whole body systems 1d

6. Health hazards of lead exposure • Lead causes health problems and disease after exposure periods: • as short as days (acute exposure) • as long as several years (chronic overexposure). 1e

7. Health hazards of lead exposure • A short-term dose of lead exposure can lead to acute encephalopathy, a condition affecting the brain that develops quickly into: • seizures • coma • death from cardiorespiratory arrest 1f

8. Health hazards of lead exposure • Central nervous system damage is one of the most severe forms of lead poisoning • Long-term (chronic) overexposure to lead may damage the blood-forming, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems 1g

9. Health hazards of lead exposure • Read the MSDS and the container’s label when you use any product that contains lead 1h

10. Potential for exposure You may be exposed to lead if you perform activities like: • abrasive blasting • sanding • scraping • cutting • burning • welding • painting 2a

11. Potential for exposure • Operations that generate lead dust and fumes include: • flame-torch cutting, welding, the use of heat guns, sanding, scraping and grinding of lead painted surfaces 2b

12. Potential for exposure • Operations that generate lead dust and fumes include: • abrasive blasting of bridges and other structures containing lead-based paints • maintaining process equipment or exhaust duct work 2c

13. OSHA’s standard on lead • Lead includes metallic lead, all inorganic lead compounds, and organic lead soaps • Applies to all construction work where an employee may be exposed to lead on the job 3a

14. OSHA’s standard on lead Under the standard, construction includes the following: • Demolition or salvage of structures where lead or materials containing lead are present • Removal or encapsulation of materials containing lead 3b

15. OSHA’s standard on lead • New construction, alteration, repair, or renovation where lead is present • Installation of products containing lead • Lead contamination from emergency cleanup 3c

16. OSHA’s standard on lead • Transportation, disposal, storage, or containment of lead or materials containing lead • Maintenance operations associated with construction activities described above 3d

17. OSHA’s standard on lead • The standard includes requirements for: 3e

18. OSHA’s standard on lead • Exposure limits • Exposure assessment • Methods of compliance • Respiratory protection • Protective work clothing and equipment • Housekeeping 3f

19. OSHA’s standard on lead • Hygiene facilities and practices • Medical surveillance • Medical removal protection • Employee Information and training • Signs • Recordkeeping • Observation of monitoring 3g

20. OSHA’s standard on lead • Appendices that contain helpful information about lead’s hazards include: • Appendix A - Substance Data Sheet for Occupational Exposure to Lead • Appendix B - Employee Standard Summary • Appendix C - Medical Surveillance Guidelines 3h

21. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) • The PEL is the limit of airborne lead to which you can be exposed • The PEL is 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air averaged over an 8-hour workday 4a

22. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) • Short exposures above 50 micrograms per cubic meter are permitted if each 8-hour work day your average exposure does not exceed this level 4b

23. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) • Daily exposure to lead can extend beyond a typical 8-hour workday if: • you work overtime • have other alterations in your work schedule 4c

24. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) • The standard contains a formula that calculates how much your exposure needs to be reduced when you are exposed more than 8 hours 4d

25. Assessing the exposure level • Employers must make an initial determination of whether any employee’s exposure to lead exceeds the standard’s action level • An action level is the level at which an employer must begin certain compliance activities 5a

26. Assessing the exposure level • The action level is an airborne concentration of 30 micrograms per cubic meter calculated as an eight-hour TWA • Respirators are not considered when the action level is being assessed 5b

27. Assessing the exposure level • Initial determination and results must be made available based on the following: • Any information, observation, or calculation that indicates employee exposure to lead • Any previous measurements of airborne lead 5c

28. Assessing the exposure level • Initial determination and results must be made available based on the following: • Any employee complaints of symptoms attributable to lead exposure • Objective data regarding materials, processes, or operations 5d

29. Assessing the exposure level • For the initial determination, a representative number of employees may be monitored 5e

30. When exposure results are not yet available • Employers must provide protection if you are performing certain tasks before the results of the exposure assessment are known 6a

31. When exposure results are not yet available • During certain tasks, until tests show that your exposure level is not above the PEL, you will need: • respiratory protection • protective clothing and equipment • change areas 6b

32. When exposure results are not yet available • During certain tasks, until tests show that your exposure level is not above the PEL, you will need: • hand washing facilities • biological monitoring • training 6c

33. Monitoring requirements • If the initial determination proves that exposure is below the action level: • testing does not need to be repeated unless there is a change in processes or controls 7a

34. Monitoring requirements • If employee exposure is at or above the action level, but at or below the PEL: • air monitoring tests must be performed at least every six months until at least two consecutive measurements (taken at least seven days apart) are below the action level 7b

35. Monitoring requirements • If employee exposure is above the PEL, monitoring must: • be performed quarterly • continue until at least two consecutive measurements (taken at least seven days apart) are at or below the PEL 7c

36. Monitoring requirements • Additional monitoring is needed if there are changes to: • equipment • processes • controls • personnel • tasks that could increase exposure 7d

37. Monitoring requirements • Affected employees can observe monitoring • Employers must notify you in writing within 5 working days of the air monitoring results 7e

38. Monitoring requirements • If the results indicate that your exposure exceeds the PEL, information regarding corrective actions must be provided 7f

39. Written compliance programs • Compliance programs are required before starting any job where employee exposures may reach the PEL as an 8-hour TWA 8a

40. Written compliance program includes: • A description of each activity in which lead is emitted • Specific plans to achieve compliance 8b

41. Written compliance program includes: • Information on the technology considered to meet the PEL • Air monitoring data that documents the source of lead emissions 8c

42. Written compliance program includes: • A detailed schedule for implementing the program • A work practice program • An administrative control schedule for job rotation 8d

43. Written compliance program includes: • A description of arrangements made among contractors on multi-contractor sites to inform affected employees of potential lead exposure • Any other relevant information 8e

44. Written compliance programs • The compliance program must provide for frequent and regular inspections of: • job sites • materials • equipment 8f

45. Control measures to reduce exposures • Employees must not be exposed to lead in excess of the PEL as an 8-hour TWA • Minimize exposure through the use of engineering controls and work practices 9a

46. Control measures to reduce exposures • Respirators are not to be used in lieu of engineering and work practices to reduce employee exposures • Respirators can only be used in combination with engineering controls and work practices to control employee exposures 9b

47. Control measures to reduce exposures • All feasible engineering controls and work practices must be in place if they are not sufficient to reduce exposure to or below the PEL 9c

48. Control measures to reduce exposures • Engineering controls reduce employee exposure in the workplace either by: • removing or isolating the hazard • isolating the worker from exposure through the use of technology 9d

49. Control measures to reduce exposures • Work practice controls reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the manner in which a task is performed 9e

50. Engineering controls • Exhaust Ventilation • Enclosure/Encapsulation • Substitution 10a