Occupational Lead Exposure Prevention - Laws and Regulations
- California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5198 (T8 CCR 5198 – for Lead in General Industry)
- This regulation will be updated on the Cal/OSHA T8 CCR 5198 webpage and go into effect on January 1, 2025. The changes can be found on the Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board- Lead website. Click here for the approved regulatory text.
- California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5155 (T8 CCR 5155 Airborne Contaminants)
- More information coming soon.
- T8 CCR 1532.1 (Lead in Construction Industry)
- This regulation will be updated on the Cal/OSHA T8 CCR 1532.1 webpage and go into effect on January 1, 2025. The changes can be found on the Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board - Lead website. Click here for the approved regulatory text.
- CDPH: Accreditation, Certification and Work Practices for Lead-Based Paint and Lead Hazards
- Chapter 8, Section 35001, et seq. Requirements for lead hazard evaluation and abatement activities, accreditation of training providers, and certification of individuals engaged in lead-related construction work as defined in Title 17, Section 35040.
- Lead-Related Activities in Construction Work
- California Labor Code Sections 6716 to 6717. These sections provide for the establishment of standards that protect the health and safety of employees who engage in lead-related construction work, including construction, demolition, renovation, and repair.
- Lead in Plumbing
- Assembly Bill 35 (AB 35) – CA Health and Safety Code 105185
- California's Department of Public Health (CDPH) must notify Cal/OSHA when a worker's blood lead level tests at or above 20 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL). Once Cal/OSHA receives a report from CDPH, it is considered an official complaint from a government representative and Cal/OSHA may inspect the employer's workplace or job site.
- California Requirements versus Federal OSHA Requirements
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The previous California regulations for Lead in Construction and General Industry were based on federal regulations [Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 29 section 1926.62], but California's Lead regulations differ from the Federal lead regulation in a number of ways. Employers doing work in California must follow California regulations.
For example, the federal regulation establishes a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for lead of 50 μg/m3 (Micrograms per cubic meter), as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration (29 CFR 1926.62(c)(1)). In addition, federal lead regulations include an action level for lead of 30 μg/m3. Amendments made to 1532.1 have established a PEL for lead of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air (10 μg/m3) calculated as an 8-hour TWA, and an Action Level for lead of 2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (2 μg/m3) calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
November 2024