(1) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall
implement engineering and work practice controls, including administrative
controls, to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead to
or below the permissible exposure limit to the extent that such
controls are feasible. Wherever all feasible engineering and work
practices controls that can be instituted are not sufficient to
reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure
limit prescribed in WAC
296-155-17607, the employer shall nonetheless use them to
reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall
supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that complies
with the requirements of WAC
296-155-17613.
(2) Compliance program.
(3) Mechanical ventilation. When ventilation is used to control
lead exposure, the employer shall evaluate the mechanical performance
of the system in controlling exposure as necessary to maintain
its effectiveness.
(4) Administrative controls. If administrative controls are used
as a means of reducing employees TWA exposure to lead, the employer
shall establish and implement a job rotation schedule which includes:
(5) The employer shall ensure that, to the extent relevant, employees
follow good work practices such as described in Appendix B, WAC
296-155-17652.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17611, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
(2) Respirator program.
(3) Respirator selection. The employer must:
[Statutory Authority: Statutory
Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050, and .060. 05-03-093 (Order
04-41), § 296-155-17613, filed 01/18/05, effective 03/01/05.
Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, .040, .050. 99-10 (Order 98-10),
§ 296-155-17613, filed 05/04/99, effective 09/01/99. Statutory
Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17613,
filed 10/29/93, effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17615 Protective work clothing and equipment.
(1) Provision and use. Where an employee is exposed to lead
above the PEL without regard to the use of respirators, where
employees are exposed to lead compounds which may cause skin
or eye irritation (e.g., lead arsenate, lead azide), and as
protection for employees performing tasks as specified in WAC
296-155-17609(2), the employer shall provide at no cost
to the employee and assure that the employee uses appropriate
protective work clothing and equipment that prevents contamination
of the employee and the employee's garments such as, but not
limited to:
(a) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing;
(b) Gloves, hats, and shoes or disposable shoe coverlets;
and
(c) Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective
equipment which complies with WAC
296-800-160.
(2) Cleaning and replacement.
(a) The employer shall provide the protective clothing required
in subsection (1) of this section in a clean and dry condition
at least weekly, and daily to employees whose exposure levels
without regard to a respirator are over 200 µg/m3
of lead as an 8-hour TWA.
(b) The employer shall provide for the cleaning, laundering,
and disposal of protective clothing and equipment required
by subsection (1) of this section.
(c) The employer shall repair or replace required protective
clothing and equipment as needed to maintain their effectiveness.
(d) The employer shall assure that all protective clothing
is removed at the completion of a work shift only in change
areas provided for that purpose as prescribed in WAC
296-155-17619(2).
(e) The employer shall assure that contaminated protective
clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered, or disposed of,
is placed in a closed container in the change area which prevents
dispersion of lead outside the container.
(f) The employer shall inform in writing any person who cleans
or launders protective clothing or equipment of the potentially
harmful effects of exposure to lead.
(g) The employer shall assure that the containers of contaminated
protective clothing and equipment required by subdivision
(e) of this subsection are labeled as follows:
Caution: Clothing contaminated with lead. Do not remove
dust by blowing or shaking. Dispose of lead contaminated wash
water in accordance with applicable local, state, or federal
regulations.
(h) The employer shall prohibit the removal of lead from
protective clothing or equipment by blowing, shaking, or any
other means which disperses lead into the air.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,
.040, .050. 01-11-038 (Order 99-36), § 296-155-120, filed 05/09/01,
effective 09/01/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW.
93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17615, filed 10/29/93, effective
12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17617 Housekeeping.
(1) All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable
of accumulations of lead.
(2) Clean-up of floors and other surfaces where lead accumulates
shall wherever possible, be cleaned by vacuuming or other methods
that minimize the likelihood of lead becoming airborne.
(3) Shoveling, dry or wet sweeping, and brushing may be used
only where vacuuming or other equally effective methods have
been tried and found not to be effective.
(4) Where vacuuming methods are selected, the vacuums shall
be equipped with HEPA filters and used and emptied in a manner
which minimizes the reentry of lead into the workplace.
(5) Compressed air shall not be used to remove lead from any
surface unless the compressed air is used in conjunction with
a ventilation system designed to capture the airborne dust created
by the compressed air.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17617, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17619 Hygiene facilities and practices.
(1) The employer shall assure that in areas where employees
are exposed to lead above the PEL without regard to the use
of respirators, food or beverage is not present or consumed,
tobacco products are not present or used, and cosmetics are
not applied.
(2) Change areas.
(a) The employer shall provide clean change areas for employees
whose airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, and as protection
for employees performing tasks as specified in WAC
296-155-17609(2), without regard to the use of respirators.
(b) The employer shall assure that change areas are equipped
with separate storage facilities for protective work clothing
and equipment and for street clothes which prevent cross-contamination.
(c) The employer shall assure that employees do not leave
the workplace wearing any protective clothing or equipment
that is required to be worn during the work shift.
(3) Showers.
(a) The employer shall provide shower facilities, where feasible,
for use by employees whose airborne exposure to lead is above
the PEL.
(b) The employer shall assure, where shower facilities are
available, that employees shower at the end of the work shift
and shall provide an adequate supply of cleansing agents and
towels for use by affected employees.
(4) Eating facilities.
(a) The employer shall provide lunchroom facilities or eating
areas for employees whose airborne exposure to lead is above
the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators.
(b) The employer shall assure that lunchroom facilities or
eating areas are as free as practicable from lead contamination
and are readily accessible to employees.
(c) The employer shall assure that employees whose airborne
exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use
of a respirator, wash their hands and face prior to eating,
drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics.
(d) The employer shall assure that employees do not enter
lunchroom facilities or eating areas with protective work
clothing or equipment unless surface lead dust has been removed
by vacuuming, downdraft booth, or other cleaning method that
limits dispersion of lead dust.
(5) Hand washing facilities.
(a) The employer shall provide adequate handwashing facilities
for use by employees exposed to lead in accordance with WAC
296-155-140.
(b) Where showers are not provided the employer shall assure
that employees wash their hands and face at the end of the
work-shift.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17619, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17621 Medical surveillance.
(1) General.
(a) The employer shall make available initial medical surveillance
to employees occupationally exposed on any day to lead at
or above the action level. Initial medical surveillance consists
of biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and
analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels.
(b) The employer shall institute a medical surveillance program
in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) of this section
for all employees who are or may be exposed by the employer
at or above the action level for more than 30 days in any
consecutive 12 months;
(c) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations
and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of
a licensed physician.
(d) The employer shall make available the required medical
surveillance including multiple physician review under subsection
(3)(c) without cost to employees and at a reasonable time
and place.
(2) Biological monitoring.
(a) Blood lead and ZPP level sampling and analysis. The employer
shall make available biological monitoring in the form of
blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin
levels to each employee covered by subsection (1)(a) and (b)
of this section on the following schedule:
(i) For each employee covered by subsection (1)(b) of this
section, at least every 2 months for the first 6 months
and every 6 months thereafter;
(ii) For each employee covered by subsection (1)(a) or
(b) of this section whose last blood sampling and analysis
indicated a blood lead level at or above 40 µg/dl, at least
every two months. This frequency shall continue until two
consecutive blood samples and analyses indicate a blood
lead level below 40 µg/dl; and
(iii) For each employee who is removed from exposure to
lead due to an elevated blood lead level at least monthly
during the removal period.
(b) Follow-up blood sampling tests. Whenever the results
of a blood lead level test indicate that an employee's blood
lead level exceeds the numerical criterion for medical removal
under WAC
296-155-17623 (1)(a), the employer shall provide a second
(follow-up) blood sampling test within two weeks after the
employer receives the results of the first blood sampling
test.
(c) Accuracy of blood lead level sampling and analysis. Blood
lead level sampling and analysis provided pursuant to this
WAC
296-155-176 shall have an accuracy (to a confidence level
of 95 percent) within plus or minus 15 percent or 6 µg/dl,
whichever is greater, and shall be conducted by a laboratory
approved by OSHA.
(d) Employee notification.
(i) Within five working days after the receipt of biological
monitoring results, the employer shall notify each employee
in writing of their blood lead level; and
(ii) The employer shall notify each employee whose blood
lead level exceeds 40 µg/dl that the standard requires temporary
medical removal with Medical Removal Protection benefits
when an employee's blood lead level exceeds the numerical
criterion for medical removal under WAC
296-155-17623(1)(a).
(3) Medical examinations and consultations.
(a) Frequency. The employer shall make available medical
examinations and consultations to each employee covered by
subsection (1)(b) of this section on the following schedule:
(i) At least annually for each employee for whom a blood
sampling test conducted at any time during the preceding
12 months indicated a blood lead level at or above 40 µg/dl;
(ii) As soon as possible, upon notification by an employee
either that the employee has developed signs or symptoms
commonly associated with lead intoxication, that the employee
desires medical advice concerning the effects of current
or past exposure to lead on the employee's ability to procreate
a healthy child, that the employee is pregnant, or that
the employee has demonstrated difficulty in breathing during
a respirator fitting test or during use; and
(iii) As medically appropriate for each employee either
removed from exposure to lead due to a risk of sustaining
material impairment to health, or otherwise limited pursuant
to a final medical determination.
(b) Content. The content of medical examinations made available
pursuant to subdivision (a)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection
shall be determined by an examining physician and, if requested
by an employee, shall include pregnancy testing or laboratory
evaluation of male fertility. Medical examinations made available
pursuant to subdivision (a)(i) of this subsection shall include
the following elements:
(i) A detailed work history and a medical history, with
particular attention to past lead exposure (occupational
and non-occupational), personal habits (smoking, hygiene),
and past gastrointestinal, hematologic, renal, cardiovascular,
reproductive and neurological problems;
(ii) A thorough physical examination, with particular attention
to teeth, gums, hematologic, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular,
and neurological systems. Pulmonary status should be evaluated
if respiratory protection will be used;
(iii) A blood pressure measurement;
(iv) A blood sample and analysis which determines:
(A) Blood lead level;
(B) Hemoglobin and hematocrit determinations, red cell
indices, and examination of peripheral smear morphology;
(C) Zinc protoporphyrin;
(D) Blood urea nitrogen; and,
(E) Serum creatinine;
(v) A routine urinalysis with microscopic examination;
and
(vi) Any laboratory or other test relevant to lead exposure
which the examining physician deems necessary by sound medical
practice.
(c) Multiple physician review mechanism.
(i) If the employer selects the initial physician who conducts
any medical examination or consultation provided to an employee
by WAC
296-155-176, the employee may designate a second physician:
(A) To review any findings, determinations or recommendations
of the initial physician; and
(B) To conduct such examinations, consultations, and
laboratory tests as the second physician deems necessary
to facilitate this review.
(ii) The employer shall promptly notify an employee of
the right to seek a second medical opinion after each occasion
that an initial physician conducts a medical examination
or consultation pursuant to WAC
296-155-176. The employer may condition its participation
in, and payment for, the multiple physician review mechanism
upon the employee doing the following within fifteen days
after receipt of the foregoing notification, or receipt
of the initial physician's written opinion, whichever is
later:
(A) The employee informing the employer that they intend
to seek a second medical opinion; and
(B) The employee initiating steps to make an appointment
with a second physician.
(iii) If the findings, determinations or recommendations
of the second physician differ from those of the initial
physician, then the employer and the employee shall assure
that efforts are made for the two physicians to resolve
any disagreement.
(iv) If the two physicians have been unable to quickly
resolve their disagreement, then the employer and the employee
through their respective physicians shall designate a third
physician:
(A) To review any findings, determinations or recommendations
of the prior physicians; and
(B) To conduct such examinations, consultations, laboratory
tests and discussions with the prior physicians as the
third physician deems necessary to resolve the disagreement
of the prior physicians.
(v) The employer shall act consistent with the findings,
determinations and recommendations of the third physician,
unless the employer and the employee reach an agreement
which is otherwise consistent with the recommendations of
at least one of the three physicians.
(d) Information provided to examining and consulting physicians.
(i) The employer shall provide an initial physician conducting
a medical examination or consultation under WAC
296-155-176 with the following information:
(A) A copy of this regulation for lead including all
Appendices;
(B) A description of the affected employee's duties as
they relate to the employee's exposure;
(C) The employee's exposure level or anticipated exposure
level to lead and to any other toxic substance (if applicable);
(D) A description of any personal protective equipment
used or to be used;
(E) Prior blood lead determinations; and
(F) All prior written medical opinions concerning the
employee in the employer's possession or control.
(ii) The employer shall provide the foregoing information
to a second or third physician conducting a medical examination
or consultation under WAC
296-155-176 upon request either by the second or third
physician, or by the employee.
(e) Written medical opinions.
(i) The employer shall obtain and furnish the employee
with a copy of a written medical opinion from each examining
or consulting physician which contains only the following
information:
(A) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee
has any detected medical condition which would place the
employee at increased risk of material impairment of the
employee's health from exposure to lead;
(B) Any recommended special protective measures to be
provided to the employee, or limitations to be placed
upon the employee's exposure to lead;
(C) Any recommended limitation upon the employee's use
of respirators, including a determination of whether the
employee can wear a powered air purifying respirator if
a physician determines that the employee cannot wear a
negative pressure respirator; and
(D) The results of the blood lead determinations.
(ii) The employer shall instruct each examining and consulting
physician to:
(A) Not reveal either in the written opinion or orally,
or in any other means of communication with the employer,
findings, including laboratory results, or diagnoses unrelated
to an employee's occupational exposure to lead; and
(B) Advise the employee of any medical condition, occupational
or nonoccupational, which dictates further medical examination
or treatment.
(f) Alternate physician determination mechanisms. The employer
and an employee or authorized employee representative may
agree upon the use of any alternate physician determination
mechanism in lieu of the multiple physician review mechanism
provided by subdivision (c) of this subsection so long as
the alternate mechanism is as expeditious and protective as
the requirements contained in this section.
(4) Chelation.
(a) The employer shall assure that any person whom he retains,
employs, supervises or controls does not engage in prophylactic
chelation of any employee at any time.
(b) If therapeutic or diagnostic chelation is to be performed
by any person in subdivision (a) of this subsection, the employer
shall assure that it be done under the supervision of a licensed
physician in a clinical setting with thorough and appropriate
medical monitoring and that the employee is notified in writing
prior to its occurrence.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17621, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17623 Medical removal protection.
(1) Temporary medical removal and return of an employee.
(a) Temporary removal due to elevated blood lead level. The
employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure
to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that
a periodic and a follow-up blood sampling test conducted pursuant
to WAC
296-155-176 indicate that the employee's blood lead level
is at or above 50 µg/dl; and
(b) Temporary removal due to a final medical determination.
(i) The employer shall remove an employee from work having
an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each
occasion that a final medical determination results in a
medical finding, determination, or opinion that the employee
has a detected medical condition which places the employee
at increased risk of material impairment to health from
exposure to lead.
(ii) For the purposes of WAC
296-155-176, the phrase “final medical determination”
means the written medical opinion on the employees' health
status by the examining physician or, where relevant, the
outcome of the multiple physician review mechanism or alternate
medical determination mechanism used pursuant to the medical
surveillance provisions of WAC
296-155-176.
(iii) Where a final medical determination results in any
recommended special protective measures for an employee,
or limitations on an employee's exposure to lead, the employer
shall implement and act consistent with the recommendation.
(c) Return of the employee to former job status.
(i) The employer shall return an employee to their former
job status:
(A) For an employee removed due to a blood lead level
at or above 50 µg/dl when two consecutive blood sampling
tests indicate that the employee's blood lead level is
at or below 40 µg/dl;
(B) For an employee removed due to a final medical determination,
when a subsequent final medical determination results
in a medical finding, determination, or opinion that the
employee no longer has a detected medical condition which
places the employee at increased risk of material impairment
to health from exposure to lead.
(ii) For the purposes of WAC
296-155-176, the requirement that an employer return
an employee to their former job status is not intended to
expand upon or restrict any rights an employee has or would
have had, absent temporary medical removal, to a specific
job classification or position under the terms of a collective
bargaining agreement.
(d) Removal of other employee special protective measure
or limitations. The employer shall remove any limitations
placed on an employee or end any special protective measures
provided to an employee pursuant to a final medical determination
when a subsequent final medical determination indicates that
the limitations or special protective measures are no longer
necessary.
(e) Employer options pending a final medical determination.
Where the multiple physician review mechanism, or alternate
medical determination mechanism used pursuant to the medical
surveillance provisions of WAC 296-155-176, has not yet resulted
in a final medical determination with respect to an employee,
the employer shall act as follows:
(i) Removal. The employer may remove the employee from
exposure to lead, provide special protective measures to
the employee, or place limitations upon the employee, consistent
with the medical findings, determinations, or recommendations
of any of the physicians who have reviewed the employee's
health status.
(ii) Return. The employer may return the employee to their
former job status, end any special protective measures provided
to the employee, and remove any limitations placed upon
the employee, consistent with the medical findings, determinations,
or recommendations of any of the physicians who have reviewed
the employee's health status, with two exceptions:
(A) If the initial removal, special protection, or limitation
of the employee resulted from a final medical determination
which differed from the findings, determinations, or recommendations
of the initial physician or;
(B) If the employee has been on removal status for the
preceding eighteen months due to an elevated blood lead
level, then the employer shall await a final medical determination.
(2) Medical removal protection benefits.
(a) Provision of medical removal protection benefits. The
employer shall provide an employee up to eighteen (18) months
of medical removal protection benefits on each occasion that
an employee is removed from exposure to lead or otherwise
limited pursuant to WAC
296-155-176.
(b) Definition of medical removal protection benefits. For
the purposes of WAC
296-155-176, the requirement that an employer provide
medical removal protection benefits means that,
as long as the job the employee was removed from continues,
the employer shall maintain the total normal earnings, seniority
and other employment rights and benefits of an employee, including
the employee's right to their former job status as though
the employee had not been medically removed from the employee's
job or otherwise medically limited.
(c) Follow-up medical surveillance during the period of employee
removal or limitation. During the period of time that an employee
is medically removed from their job or otherwise medically
limited, the employer may condition the provision of medical
removal protection benefits upon the employee's participation
in follow-up medical surveillance made available pursuant
to WAC
296-155-176.
(d) Workers' compensation claims. If a removed employee files
a claim for workers' compensation payments for a lead-related
disability, then the employer shall continue to provide medical
removal protection benefits pending disposition of the claim.
To the extent that an award is made to the employee for earnings
lost during the period of removal, the employer's medical
removal protection obligation shall be reduced by such amount.
The employer shall receive no credit for workers' compensation
payments received by the employee for treatment-related expenses.
(e) Other credits. The employer's obligation to provide medical
removal protection benefits to a removed employee shall be
reduced to the extent that the employee receives compensation
for earnings lost during the period of removal either from
a publicly or employer-funded compensation program, or receives
income from employment with another employer made possible
by virtue of the employee's removal.
(f) Voluntary removal or restriction of an employee. Where
an employer, although not required by
WAC 296-155-176 to do so, removes an employee from exposure
to lead or otherwise places limitations on an employee due
to the effects of lead exposure on the employee's medical
condition, the employer shall provide medical removal protection
benefits to the employee equal to that required by subdivisions
(a) and (b) of this subsection.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17623, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17625 Employee information and training.
(1) General.
(a) The employer shall communicate information concerning
lead hazards according to the requirements of WISHA's hazard
communication standard for the construction industry, chapter
296-800 WAC, including but not limited to the requirements
concerning warning signs and labels, material safety data
sheets (MSDS), and employee information and training. In addition,
employers shall comply with the following requirements:
(b) For all employees who are subject to exposure to lead
at or above the action level on any day or who are subject
to exposure to lead compounds which may cause skin or eye
irritation (e.g., lead arsenate, lead azide), the employer
shall provide a training program in accordance with subsection
(2) of this section and assure employee participation.
(c) The employer shall provide the training program as initial
training prior to the time of job assignment or prior to the
start up date for this requirement, whichever comes last.
(d) The employer shall also provide the training program
at least annually for each employee who is subject to lead
exposure at or above the action level on any day.
(2) Training program. The employer shall assure that each employee
is trained in the following:
(a) The content of this standard and its appendices;
(b) The specific nature of the operations which could result
in exposure to lead above the action level;
(c) The training requirements for respiratory protection
as required by
(WAC 296-842-110, 296-842-19005
and 296-842-16005);
(d) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance
program, and the medical removal protection program including
information concerning the adverse health effects associated
with excessive exposure to lead (with particular attention
to the adverse reproductive effects on both males and females
and hazards to the fetus and additional precautions for employees
who are pregnant);
(e) The engineering controls and work practices associated
with the employee's job assignment including training of employees
to follow relevant good work practices described in Appendix
B, WAC
296-155-17652;
(f) The contents of any compliance plan in effect;
(g) Instructions to employees that chelating agents should
not routinely be used to remove lead from their bodies and
should not be used at all except under the direction of a
licensed physician; and
(h) The employee's right of access to records under chapter
296-802 and chapter
296-800 WAC.
(3) Access to information and training materials.
(a) The employer shall make readily available to all affected
employees a copy of this standard and its appendices.
(b) The employer shall provide, upon request, all materials
relating to the employee information and training program
to affected employees and their designated representatives,
and the director.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,
.040, .050, and .060. 05-03-093 (Order 04-41), § 296-155-17625,
filed 01/18/05, effective 03/01/05. Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010, .040, .050. 01-11-038 (Order 99-36), § 296-155-17625,
filed 05/09/01, effective 09/01/01. Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010, .040, .050. 99-10 (Order 98-10), § 296-155-17625,
filed 05/04/99, effective 09/01/99. Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17625, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17627 Signs.
(1) General.
(a) The employer may use signs required by other statutes,
regulations or ordinances in addition to, or in combination
with, signs required by this section.
(b) The employer shall assure that no statement appears on
or near any sign required by this section which contradicts
or detracts from the meaning of the required sign.
(2) Signs.
(a) The employer shall post the following warning signs in
each work area where an employees exposure to lead is above
the PEL.
Warning
Lead
Work Area
Poison
No
Smoking Or Eating
(b) The employer shall assure that signs required by this
section are illuminated and cleaned as necessary so that the
legend is readily visible.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17627, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17629 Recordkeeping.
(1) Exposure assessment.
(a) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate
record of all monitoring and other data used in conducting
employee exposure assessments as required in WAC
296-155-17609.
(b) Exposure monitoring records shall include:
(i) The date(s), number, duration, location and results
of each of the samples taken if any, including a description
of the sampling procedure used to determine representative
employee exposure where applicable;
(ii) A description of the sampling and analytical methods
used and evidence of their accuracy;
(iii) The type of respiratory protective devices worn,
if any;
(iv) Name, social security number, and job classification
of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose
exposure the measurement is intended to represent; and
(v) The environmental variables that could affect the measurement
of employee exposure.
(c) The employer shall maintain monitoring and other exposure
assessment records in accordance with the provisions of 296-802
WAC.
(2) Medical surveillance.
(a) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate
record for each employee subject to medical surveillance as
required by WAC
296-155-17621.
(b) This record shall include:
(i) The name, Social Security number, and description of
the duties of the employee;
(ii) A copy of the physician's written opinions;
(iii) Results of any airborne exposure monitoring done
on or for that employee and provided to the physician; and
(iv) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure
to lead.
(c) The employer shall keep, or assure that the examining
physician keeps, the following medical records:
(i) A copy of the medical examination results including
medical and work history required by
WAC 296-155-17621;
(ii) A description of the laboratory procedures and a copy
of any standards or guidelines used to interpret the test
results or references to that information;
(iii) A copy of the results of biological monitoring.
(d) The employer shall maintain or assure that the physician
maintains medical records in accordance with the provisions
of 296-802
WAC.
(3) Medical removals.
(a) The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate
record for each employee removed from current exposure to
lead pursuant to WAC
296-155-17623.
(b) Each record shall include:
(i) The name and social security number of the employee;
(ii) The date of each occasion that the employee was removed
from current exposure to lead as well as the corresponding
date on which the employee was returned to their former
job status;
(iii) A brief explanation of how each removal was or is
being accomplished; and
(iv) A statement with respect to each removal indicating
whether or not the reason for the removal was an elevated
blood lead level.
(c) The employer shall maintain each medical removal record
for at least the duration of an employee's employment.
(4) Objective data for exemption from requirement for initial
monitoring.
(a) For purposes of WAC
296-155-176, objective data are information demonstrating
that a particular product or material containing lead or a
specific process, operation, or activity involving lead cannot
release dust or fumes in concentrations at or above the action
level under any expected conditions of use. Objective data
can be obtained from an industry-wide study or from laboratory
product test results from manufacturers of lead containing
products or materials. The data the employer uses from an
industry-wide survey must be obtained under workplace conditions
closely resembling the processes, types of material, control
methods, work practices and environmental conditions in the
employer's current operations.
(b) The employer shall maintain the record of the objective
data relied upon for at least 30 years.
(5) Availability. The employer shall make available upon request
all records required to be maintained by this section to affected
employees, former employees, and their designated representatives,
and to the director for examination and copying.
(6) Transfer of records.
(a) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor
employer shall receive and retain all records required to
be maintained by this section.
(b) Whenever the employer ceases to do business and there
is no successor employer to receive and retain the records
required to be maintained by WAC
296-155-176 for the prescribed period, these records shall
be transmitted to the director.
(c) At the expiration of the retention period for the records
required to be maintained by WAC
296-155-176, the employer shall notify the director at
least 3 months prior to the disposal of such records and shall
transmit those records to the director if requested within
the period.
(d) The employer shall also comply with any additional requirements
involving transfer of records set forth in 296-802
WAC.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17629, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17631 Observation of monitoring.
(1) Employee observation. The employer shall provide affected
employees or their designated representatives an opportunity
to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to lead conducted
pursuant to WAC
296-155-17609.
(2) Observation procedures.
(a) Whenever observation of the monitoring of employee exposure
to lead requires entry into an area where the use of respirators,
protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer
shall provide the observer with and assure the use of such
respirators, clothing and equipment, and shall require the
observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health
procedures.
(b) Without interfering with the monitoring, observers shall
be entitled to:
(i) Receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;
(ii) Observe all steps related to the monitoring of lead
performed at the place of exposure; and
(iii) Record the results obtained or receive copies of
the results when returned by the laboratory.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17631, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17650 Appendix A to WAC 296-155-176-Substance data
sheet for occupational exposure to lead.
The information contained in the appendices to WAC
296-155-176 is not intended by itself, to create any additional
obligations not otherwise imposed by this standard nor detract
from any existing obligation.
(1) Substance identification.
(a) Substance: Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal at room temperature
and pressure and is a basic chemical element. It can combine
with various other substances to form numerous lead compounds.
(b) Compounds covered by the standard: The word “lead”
when used in this standard means elemental lead, all
inorganic lead compounds and a class of organic lead compounds
called lead soaps. This standard does not apply to other organic
lead compounds.
(c) Uses: Exposure to lead occurs in several different occupations
in the construction industry, including demolition or salvage
of structures where lead or lead-containing materials are
present; removal or encapsulation of lead-containing materials,
new construction, alteration, repair, or renovation of structures
that contain lead or materials containing lead; installation
of products containing lead. In addition, there are construction
related activities where exposure to lead may occur, including
transportation, disposal, storage, or containment of lead
or materials containing lead on construction sites, and maintenance
operations associated with construction activities.
(d) Permissible exposure: The permissible exposure limit
(PEL) set by the standard is 50 micrograms of lead per cubic
meter of air (50µg/m3), averaged over an 8-hour
workday.
(e) Action level: The standard establishes an action level
of 30 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (30 µg/m3),
averaged over an 8-hour workday. The action level triggers
several ancillary provisions of the standard such as exposure
monitoring, medical surveillance, and training.
(2) Health hazard data.
(a) Ways in which lead enters your body. When absorbed into
your body in certain doses, lead is a toxic substance. The
object of the lead standard is to prevent absorption of harmful
quantities of lead. The standard is intended to protect you
not only from the immediate toxic effects of lead, but also
from the serious toxic effects that may not become apparent
until years of exposure have passed. Lead can be absorbed
into your body by inhalation (breathing) and ingestion (eating).
Lead (except for certain organic lead compounds not covered
by the standard, such as tetraethyl lead) is not absorbed
through your skin. When lead is scattered in the air as a
dust, fume respiratory tract. Inhalation of airborne lead
is generally the most important source of occupational lead
absorption. You can also absorb lead through your digestive
system if lead gets into your mouth and is swallowed. If you
handle food, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or make-up which
have lead on them or handle them with hands contaminated with
lead, this will contribute to ingestion. A significant portion
of the lead that you inhale or ingest gets into your blood
stream. Once in your blood stream, lead is circulated throughout
your body and stored in various organs and body tissues. Some
of this lead is quickly filtered out of your body and excreted,
but some remains in the blood and other tissues. As exposure
to lead continues, the amount stored in your body will increase
if you are absorbing more lead than your body is excreting.
Even though you may not be aware of any immediate symptoms
of disease, this lead stored in your tissues can be slowly
causing irreversible damage, first to individual cells, then
to your organs and whole body systems.
(b) Effects of overexposure to lead.
(i) Short term (acute) overexposure. Lead is a potent,
systemic poison that serves no known useful function once
absorbed by your body. Taken in large enough doses, lead
can kill you in a matter of days. A condition affecting
the brain called acute encephalopathy may arise which develops
quickly to seizures, coma, and death from cardiorespiratory
arrest. A short term dose of lead can lead to acute encephalopathy.
Short term occupational exposures of this magnitude are
highly unusual, but not impossible. Similar forms of encephalopathy
may, however, arise from extended, chronic exposure to lower
doses of lead. There is no sharp dividing line between rapidly
developing acute effects of lead, and chronic effects which
take longer to acquire. Lead adversely affects numerous
body systems, and causes forms of health impairment and
disease which arise after periods of exposure as short as
days or as long as several years.
(ii) Long-term (chronic) overexposure. Chronic overexposure
to lead may result in severe damage to your blood-forming,
nervous, urinary and reproductive systems. Some common symptoms
of chronic overexposure 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. In lead colic
there may be severe abdominal pain. Damage to the central
nervous system in general and the brain (encephalopathy)
in particular is one of the most severe forms of lead poisoning.
The most severe, often fatal, form of encephalopathy may
be preceded by vomiting, a feeling of dullness progressing
to drowsiness and stupor, poor memory, restlessness, irritability,
tremor, and convulsions. It may arise suddenly with the
onset of seizures, followed by coma, and death. There is
a tendency for muscular weakness to develop at the same
time. This weakness may progress to paralysis often observed
as a characteristic “wrist drop” or “foot
drop” and is a manifestation of a disease to the nervous
system called peripheral neuropathy. Chronic overexposure
to lead also results in kidney disease with few, if any,
symptoms appearing until extensive and most likely permanent
kidney damage has occurred. Routine laboratory tests
reveal the presence of this kidney disease only about two-thirds
of kidney function is lost. When overt symptoms of
urinary dysfunction arise, it is often too late to correct
or prevent worsening conditions, and progression to kidney
dialysis or death is possible. Chronic overexposure
to lead impairs the reproductive systems of both men and
women. Overexposure to lead may result in decreased
sex drive, impotence and sterility in men. Lead can
alter the structure of sperm cells raising the risk of birth
defects. There is evidence of miscarriage and stillbirth
in women whose husbands were exposed to lead or who were
exposed to lead themselves. Lead exposure also may
result in decreased fertility, and abnormal menstrual cycles
in women. The course of pregnancy may be adversely
affected by exposure to lead since lead crosses the placental
barrier and poses risks to developing fetuses. Children
born of parent either one of whom were exposed to excess
lead levels are more likely to have birth defects, mental
retardation, behavioral disorders or die during the first
year of childhood. Overexposure to lead also disrupts
the blood-forming system resulting in decreased hemoglobin
(the substance in the blood that carries oxygen to the cells)
and ultimately anemia. Anemia is characterized by
weakness, pallor and fatigability as a result of decreased
oxygen carrying capacity in the blood.
(iii) Health protection goals of the standard. Prevention
of adverse health effects for most workers from exposure
to lead throughout a working lifetime requires that a worker's
blood lead level (BLL, also expressed as PbB) be maintained
at or below forty micrograms per deciliter of whole blood
(40 µg/dl). The blood lead levels of workers (both male
and female workers) who intend to have children should be
maintained below 30 µg/dl to minimize adverse reproductive
health effects to the parents and to the developing fetus.
The measurement of your blood lead level (BLL) is the most
useful indicator of the amount of lead absorbed by your
body.
Blood lead levels are most often reported in units of milligrams
(mg) or micrograms (µg) of lead (1 mg=1000 µg) per 100 grams
(100g), 100 milliliters (100 ml) or deciliter (dl) of blood.
These three units are essentially the same. Sometime BLLs
are expressed in the form of mg% or µg%. This is a shorthand
notation for 100g, 100 ml, or dl. (References to BLL measurements
in this standard are expressed in the form of µg/dl.)
BLL measurements show the amount of lead circulating in
your blood stream, but do not give any information about
the amount of lead stored in your various tissues. BLL measurements
merely show current absorption of lead, not the effect that
lead is having on your body or the effects that past lead
exposure may have already caused. Past research into lead-related
diseases, however, has focused heavily on associations between
BLLs and various diseases. As a result, your BLL is an important
indicator of the likelihood that you will gradually acquire
a lead-related health impairment or disease.
Once your blood lead level climbs above 40 µg/dl, your
risk of disease increases. There is a wide variability of
individual response to lead, thus it is difficult to say
that a particular BLL in a given person will cause a particular
effect. Studies have associated fatal encephalopathy with
BLLs as low as 150 µg/dl. Other studies have shown other
forms of diseases in some workers with BLLs well below 80
µg/dl. Your BLL is a crucial indicator of the risks to your
health, but one other factor is also extremely important.
This factor is the length of time you have had elevated
BLLs. The longer you have an elevated BLL, the greater
the risk that large quantities of lead are being gradually
stored in your organs and tissues (body burden). The
greater your overall body burden, the greater the chances
of substantial permanent damage. The best way to prevent
all forms of lead-related impairments and diseases-both
short-term and long-term is to maintain your BLL below 40
ug/dl. The provisions of the standard are designed
with this end in mind.
Your employer has prime responsibility to assure that the
provisions of the standard are complied with both by the
company and by individual workers. You, as a worker, however,
also have a responsibility to assist your employer in complying
with the standard. You can play a key role in protecting
your own health by learning about the lead hazards and their
control, learning what the standard requires, following
the standard where it governs your own actions, and seeing
that your employer complies with provisions governing employee
actions.
(iv) Reporting signs and symptoms of health problems. You
should immediately notify your employer if you develop signs
or symptoms associated with lead poisoning or if you desire
medical advice concerning the effects of current or past
exposure to lead or your ability to have a healthy child.
You should also notify your employer if you have difficulty
breathing during a respirator fit test or while wearing
a respirator. In each of these cases, your employer must
make available to you appropriate medical examinations or
consultations.
These must be provided at no cost to you and at a reasonable
time and place. The standard contains a procedure whereby
you can obtain a second opinion by a physician of your choice
if your employer selected the initial physician.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. 93-22-054 (Order 93-07), § 296-155-17650, filed 10/29/93,
effective 12/10/93.]
WAC
296-155-17652 Appendix B to WAC 296-155-176-Employee standard
summary.
This appendix summarizes key provisions of the standard for
lead in construction that you as a worker should become familiar
with.
(1) Permissible exposure limit (PEL)-WAC
296-155-17607.
The standard sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50
micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3),
averaged over an 8-hour workday which is referred to as a time-weighted
average (TWA). This is the highest level of lead in air to which
you may be permissibly exposed over an 8-hour workday.
However, since this is an 8-hour average, short exposures above
the PEL are permitted so long as for each 8-hour work day your
average exposure does not exceed this level. This standard,
however, takes into account the fact that your daily exposure
to lead can extend beyond a typical 8-hour workday as the result
of overtime or other alterations in your work schedule. To deal
with this situation, the standard contains a formula which reduces
your permissible exposure when you are exposed more than 8 hours.
For example, if you are exposed to lead for 10 hours a day,
the maximum permitted average exposure would be 40µg/m3.
(2) Exposure assessment-WAC
296-155-17609.
If lead is present in your workplace in any quantity, your
employer is required to make an initial determination of whether
any employee's exposure to lead exceeds the action level (30
µg/m3 averaged over an 8-hour day). Employee exposure
is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not
using a respirator. This initial determination requires your
employer to monitor workers' exposures unless the employee has
objective data which can demonstrate conclusively that no employee
will be exposed to lead in excess of the action level. Where
objective data is used in lieu of actual monitoring the employer
must establish and maintain an accurate record, documenting
its relevancy in assessing exposure levels for current job conditions.
If such objective data is available, the employer need proceed
no further on employee exposure assessment until such time that
conditions have changed and the determination is no longer valid.
Objective data may be compiled from various sources, e.g.,
insurance companies and trade associations and information from
suppliers or exposure data collected from similar operations.
Objective data may also comprise previously-collected sampling
data including area monitoring. If it cannot be determined through
using objective data that worker exposure is less than the action
level, your employer must conduct monitoring or must rely on
relevant previous personal sampling, if available. Where monitoring
is required for the initial determination, it may be limited
to a representative number of employees who are reasonably expected
to have the highest exposure levels. If your employer has conducted
appropriate air sampling for lead in the past 12 months, they
may use these results, provided they are applicable to the same
employee tasks and exposure conditions and meet the requirements
for accuracy as specified in the standard. As with objective
data, if such results are relied upon for the initial determination,
your employer must establish and maintain a record as to the
relevancy of such data to current job conditions.
If there have been any employee complaints of symptoms which
may be attributable to exposure to lead or if there is any other
information or observations which would indicate employee exposure
to lead, this must also be considered as part of the initial
determination. If this initial determination shows that a reasonable
possibility exists that any employee may be exposed, without
regard to respirator, over the action level, your employer must
set up an air monitoring program to determine the exposure level
representative of each employee exposed to lead at your workplace.
In carrying out this air monitoring program, your employer is
not required to monitor the exposure of every employee, but
they must monitor a representative number of employees and job
types. Enough sampling must be done to enable each employee's
exposure level to be reasonably represent full shift exposure.
In addition, these air samples must be taken under conditions
which represent each employee's regular, daily exposure to lead.
Sampling performed in the past 12 months may be used to determine
exposures above the action level if such sampling was conducted
during work activities essentially similar to present work conditions.
The standard lists certain tasks which may likely result in
exposures to lead in excess of the PEL and, in some cases, exposures
in excess of 50 times the PEL. If you are performing any of
these tasks, your employer must provide you with appropriate
respiratory protection, protective clothing and equipment, change
areas, hand washing facilities, biological monitoring, and training
until such time that an exposure assessment is conducted which
demonstrates that your exposure level is below the PEL.
If you are exposed to lead and air sampling is performed, your
employer is required to notify you in writing within 5 working
days of the air monitoring results which represent your exposure.
If the results indicate that your exposure exceeds the PEL (without
regard to your use of a respirator), then your employer must
also notify you of this in writing, and provide you with a description
of the corrective action that has been taken or will be taken
to reduce your exposure.
Your exposure must be rechecked by monitoring, at least every
six months if your exposure is at or over the action level but
below the PEL. Your employer may discontinue monitoring for
you if 2 consecutive measurements, taken at least 7 days apart,
are at or below the action level. Air monitoring must be repeated
every 3 months if you are exposed over the PEL. Your employer
must continue monitoring for you at this frequency until 2 consecutive
measurements, taken at least 7 days apart, are below the PEL
but above the action level, at which time your employer must
repeat monitoring of your exposure every six months and may
discontinue monitoring only after your exposure drops to or
below the action level. However, whenever there is a change
of equipment, process, control, or personnel or a new type of
job is added at your workplace which may result in new or additional
exposure to lead, your employer must perform additional monitoring.
(3) Methods of compliance-WAC
296-155-17611.
Your employer is required to assure that no employee is exposed
to lead in excess of the PEL as an 8-hour TWA. The standard
for lead in construction requires employers to institute engineering
and work practice controls including administrative controls
to the extent feasible to reduce employee exposure to lead.
Where such controls are feasible but not adequate to reduce
exposures below the PEL they must be used nonetheless to reduce
exposures to the lowest level that can be accomplished by these
means and then supplemented with appropriate respiratory protection.
Your employer is required to develop and implement a written
compliance program prior to the commencement of any job where
employee exposures may reach the PEL as an 8-hour TWA. The standard
identifies the various elements that must be included in the
plan. For example, employers are required to include a description
of operations in which lead is emitted, detailing other relevant
information about the operation such as the type of equipment
used, the type of material involved, employee job responsibilities,
operating procedures and maintenance practices. In addition,
your employer's compliance plan must specify the means that
will be used to achieve compliance and, where engineering controls
are required, include any engineering plans or studies that
have been used to select the control methods. If administrative
controls involving job rotation are used to reduce employee
exposure to lead, the job rotation schedule must be included
in the compliance plan. The plan must also detail the type of
protective clothing and equipment, including respirator, housekeeping
and hygiene practices that will be used to protect you from
the adverse effects of exposure to lead.
The written compliance program must be made available, upon
request, to affected employees and their designated representatives,
and the director.
Finally, the plan must be reviewed and updated at least every
6 months to assure it reflects the current status in exposure
control.
(4) Respiratory protection-WAC
296-155-17613.
Your employer is required to select respirator from the types
listed in Table I of the Respiratory Protection section of the
standard (see WAC
296-155-17613). Any respirator chosen must be certified
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) under the provisions of 42 CFR part 84. This respirator
selection table will enable your employer to choose a type of
respirator that will give you a proper amount of protection
based on your airborne lead exposure. Your employer may select
a type of respirator that provides greater protection than that
required by the standard; that is, one recommended for a higher
concentration of lead than is present in your workplace. For
example, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is much more
protective than a typical negative pressure respirator, and
may also be more comfortable to wear. A PAPR has a filter, cartridge,
or canister to clean the air, and a power source which continuously
blows filtered air into your breathing zone. Your employer might
make a PAPR available to you to ease the burden of having to
wear a respirator for long periods of time. The standard provides
that you can obtain a PAPR upon request.
Your employer must also start a Respiratory Protection Program.
This program must include written procedures for the proper
selection, use, cleaning, storage, and maintenance of respirator.
Your employer must ensure that your respirator facepiece fits
properly. Proper fit of a respirator facepiece is critical to
your protection from airborne lead. Obtaining a proper fit on
each employee may require your employer to make available several
different types of respirator masks. To ensure that your respirator
fits properly and that facepiece leakage is minimal, your employer
must give you either a qualitative or quantitative fit test
as specified in WAC
296-842-15005.
(5) Protective work clothing and equipment-WAC
296-155-17615.
If you are exposed to lead above the PEL as an 8-hour TWA,
without regard to your use of a respirator, or if you are exposed
to lead compounds such as lead arsenate or lead azide which
can cause skin and eye irritation, your employer must provide
you with protective work clothing and equipment appropriate
for the hazard. If work clothing is provided, it must be provided
in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily if your
airborne exposure to lead is greater than 200 µg/m3.
Appropriate protective work clothing and equipment can include
coveralls or similar full-body work clothing, gloves, hats,
shoes or disposable shoe coverlets, and face shields or vented
goggles. Your employer is required to provide all such equipment
at no cost to you. In addition, your employer is responsible
for providing repairs and replacement as necessary, and also
is responsible for the cleaning, laundering or disposal of protective
clothing and equipment.
The standard requires that your employer assure that you follow
good work practices when you are working in areas where your
exposure to lead may exceed the PEL. With respect to protective
clothing and equipment, where appropriate, the following procedures
should be observed prior to beginning work:
- Change into work clothing and shoe covers in the clean
section of the designated changing areas;
- Use work garments of appropriate protective gear, including
respirator before entering the work area; and
- Store any clothing not worn under protective clothing
in the designated changing area.
Workers should follow these procedures upon leaving the work
area:
- HEPA vacuum heavily contaminated protective work clothing
while it is still being worn. At no time may lead be removed
from protective clothing by any means which result in uncontrolled
dispersal of lead into the air;
- Remove shoe covers and leave them in the work area;
- Remove protective clothing and gear in the dirty area
of the designated changing area. Remove protective coveralls
by carefully rolling down the garment to reduce exposure
to dust.
- Remove respirator last; and
- Wash hands and face.
Workers should follow these procedures upon finishing work
for the day (in addition to procedures described above):
- Where applicable, place disposal coveralls and shoe covers
with the abatement waste;
- Contaminated clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered
or disposed of must be placed in closed containers in the
change room.
- Clean protective gear, including respirator, according
to standard procedures;
- Wash hands and face again.
If showers are available, take a shower and wash hair. If shower
facilities are not available at the work site, shower immediately
at home and wash hair.
(6) Housekeeping-WAC
296-155-17617.
Your employer must establish a housekeeping program sufficient
to maintain all surfaces as free as practicable of accumulations
of lead dust. Vacuuming is the preferred method of meeting this
requirement, and the use of compressed air to clean floors and
other surfaces is generally prohibited unless removal with compressed
air is done in conjunction with ventilation systems designed
to contain dispersal of the lead dust. Dry or wet sweeping,
shoveling, or brushing may not be used except where vacuuming
or other equally effective methods have been tried and do not
work. Vacuums must be used equipped with a special filter called
a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and emptied
in a manner which minimizes the reentry of lead into the workplace.
(7) Hygiene facilities and practices-WAC
296-155-17619.
The standard requires that hand washing facilities be provided
where occupational exposure to lead occurs. In addition, change
areas, showers (where feasible), and lunchrooms or eating areas
are to be made available to workers exposed to lead above the
PEL. Your employer must assure that except in these facilities,
food and beverage is not present or consumed, tobacco products
are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, where
airborne exposures are above the PEL. Change rooms provided
by your employer must be equipped with separate storage facilities
for your protective clothing and equipment and street clothes
to avoid cross-contamination. After showering, no required protective
clothing or equipment worn during the shift may be worn home.
It is important that contaminated clothing or equipment be removed
in change areas and not be worn home or you will extend your
exposure and expose your family since lead from your clothing
can accumulate in your house, car, etc.
Lunchrooms or eating areas may not be ente
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