Lead Exposure Levels

OSHA 29 CFR 1915.1025 covers the safe use and handling of lead in the maritime industry. This standard applies to all maritime work where an employee may be exposed to lead.

The standard establishes maximum limits of exposure to lead for all workers. The PEL sets the maximum worker exposure to lead at 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m³) averaged over an 8-hour period. If employees are exposed to lead for more than eight hours in a workday, their allowable exposure as a TWA for that day must be reduced according to this formula:

Employee exposure (in µg/m³) = 400 divided by the hours worked in the day.

The action level, regardless of respirator use, is an airborne concentration of 30 µg/m³, averaged over an eight-hour period. The action level is the level at which an employer must begin specific compliance activities outlined in the standard.

For each job where employee exposure exceeds the PEL, the employer must establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce employee exposure to the PEL or below. Before the employees begin work, the employer must perform an initial employee exposure assessment. Pending the exposure assessment results, employers must provide interim protection for workers through the use of PPE, biological monitoring, and training. If the initial assessment results indicate that no employee is exposed above the action level, then no further monitoring is required. All employees must be notified in writing of the assessment results.

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