​​​​Recommendations for Improving the Cal/OSHA Lead Standa​​​rds

The Cal/OSHA lead standards are based on lead toxicity information that is now 40 years old. Current medical information clearly demonstrates harmful effects of chronic and low-level exposures to lead in adults, at levels well below those currently allowed by the standards.

The CDPH Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OLPPP) reviewed the scientific information and made health-based recommendations to Cal/OSHA for revising its General Industry Lead Standard and Construction Industry Lead Standard for the protection of workers who are exposed to lead on the job. OLPPP participated in the Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety and Health) Advisory Committee process for revising the Lead Standards. See below for details and supporting documentation.

CDPH/​​​OLPP​​P R​​ecommendations for Cal/OSHA Lead Standard Revisions

Revising the Workplace Lead Standards: At-A-Glance (PDF) - brief summary of the scientific background, CDPH recommendations, and next steps in revising the standards.

Recommended Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Lead (PDF) – health-based recommendation for the limit in workplace air (September 2013)​

Lead in Construction Industry:

• Summary of Recommended Changes (PDF) – includes chart comparing triggers and requirements (April 2011)

• Current Lead in Construction Standard with Proposed Revisions (PDF) (April 2011)

Lead in General Industry:

• General Industry Lead Standard -- Summary of Recommended Changes (PDF) – includes chart comparing triggers and requirements (June 2010)

• Current General Industry Lead Standard with Proposed Revisions (PDF)  (December 2011)

Cal/OSHA Lead Standa​​rd Advisory Meeti​​​ngs

Cal/OSHA Advisory Meetings on Occupational Lead Exposure – Cal/OSHA drafts of possible changes to the lead standards, meeting minutes, and future announcements

The scientific basis for C​​DPH/OLPPP lead standard recommendations

• Symposium: Lead in the Workplace – The New Science (Includes Recorded Video Stream) – Symposium on the science behind the CDPH’s recommended revisions to the Cal/OSHA lead standards. Web page with video streams and PowerPoint presentations by each speaker, videos of expert panel and audience discussion.  (November 2013)

• Estimating Workplace Air and Worker Blood Lead Concentration using an Updated Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Model (PDF)– report produced by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), characterizing the relationship between air lead levels and blood lead levels. (revised December 2014)

• Health professional summary (PDF) 

• General public summary (PDF)

• National Toxicology Program (NTP) Monograph On Health Effects Of Low-Level Lead  – technical report produced by the NTP Office of Health Assessment and Translation. (June 2012)

• Integrated Science Assessment for Lead – technical report produced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Report includes a summary and evaluation of the research on the health effects of low-level lead. (June 2013) 

• Recommendations for Medical Management of Adult Lead Exposure (PDF)– journal article abstract (2007)​

Calif​orn​ia L​​ead Le​​gisl​​​​​ation & Regulations

The California State Legislature creates legislation (laws) through the passage of Assembly or Senate bills.

Regulations, also referred to as "standards," are the details and requirements for a given law.

Health standards are proposed by State agencies, such as the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in the California Department of Industrial Relations, through a rulemaking process. Although Cal/OSHA proposes health regulations (and enforces health and safety regulations), they are passed by the California Occupational Safety and Health Board whose members are appointed by the Governor.

The following is a list of California occupational lead poisoning prevention laws and regulations.

• Cal/OSHA Construction Industry Lead Standard (PDF) – Title 8 CCR §1532.1

• Cal/OSHA General Industry Lead Standard (PDF) – Title 8 CCR §5198

• Legislation that established the Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (PDF) – Health and Safety Code §§105185-105195; program purpose, funding, and mandates.

• 2019 legislation adding new OLPPP mandate – Chapter 710, Statutes of 2019 (AB 35 Kalra); requires OLPPP to refer workplaces with a blood lead level 20 µg/dL or higher to Cal/OSHA for an enforcement inspection.

• Blood lead test result reporting by laboratories (PDF) – Health and Safety Code §124130; legislation requiring laboratories to report blood lead test results to the California Department of Public Health.

• Occupational Lead Poisoning Fee Program – Title 17 CCR §38001; regulation that explains the program; includes a list of industries assessed the annual fee, fee waiver eligibility, and procedures for applying for a fee waiver.

Recom​​me​ndations for improving the Cal/OSHA Lead Standards

The Cal/OSHA lead standards are based on lead toxicity information that is now over 40 years old. Current medical information clearly demonstrates harmful effects of chronic and low-level exposures to lead in adults, at levels well below those currently allowed by the standards. See OLPPP's Recommendations for Improving the Cal/OSHA Lead Standards.

Lead in the Workp​lace - The New Science

A one-day scient​ific symposium moderated by John Howard, MD, Director of NIOSH

The CDPH Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OLPPP) has reviewed available scientific information and made health-based recommendations to Cal/OSHA for revising its General Industry Lead Standard and Lead in Construction Standard. This symposium, held on November 13, 2013, discussed the scientific basis for the CDPH recommendations.

Scientific experts provided detailed presentations on the current literature on health effects of low-level lead exposure and the Cal/EPA report on modeling of the air lead/blood lead relationship. A CDPH representative presented the basis for the CDPH's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) recommendation (PDF) to Cal/OSHA. In addition, a panel of experts from related disciplines responded to the presentations and participated in a Q & A session with symposium attendees.​

​​Individual spea​k​er pr​​esentations​