Identify and assess lead hazards

Occupational exposure to lead generally occurs during work that involves:

Demolition or salvage of structures that contain lead
Removal or encapsulation of lead-containing materials
New construction, alteration, repair, or renovation of structures that contain lead or lead-containing materials
Installation of products containing lead
Lead contamination clean-up
Transportation, disposal, or storage of lead-containing materials

View a list of jobs, hobbies, and other sources of lead exposure.

To ensure that lead hazards have been properly identified and assessed:

Review Safety Data Sheets and labels for all materials or products to determine if they contain lead.
Conduct and document air monitoring to determine whether your workplace meets the permissible exposure limit for lead of 10 micrograms per cubic deciliter as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
Repeat air monitoring with any change in process, control, personnel, or tasks.
Test coatings for lead (or assume they contain lead) if work disturbs paint or surface coatings on metal structures or pre-1978 buildings.
Conduct repeat exposure assessments on a schedule proscribed in the Cal/OSHA Occupational Lead Standards.
Notify workers of the results of air sampling for lead within five days of receiving the results.

Review the Cal/OSHA Occupational Lead Standards for more information about identifying and assessing lead hazards. See Standards, Exposure Assessment (air sampling), section (d).