Many businesses in construction, manufacturing, or other industries with lead exposure are required to collect employee blood lead samples. Workplaces with welding, spraying, grinding, pressure blasting, torch cutting, and other similar operations where lead particles are released into the air are included. If your workers breathe in or accidently consume lead particles, they are at risk for blood lead poisoning. 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is the agency that gets copies of all occupational blood lead level analyses in California. In the past, they would contact employers only if the department was concerned about a worker’s blood lead levels. Now, there is a specific benchmark.

Benchmark and response requirements

When CDPH receives a report showing blood lead levels of 20 micrograms or more, they must report it to Cal/OSHA within five days of receiving the report. Cal/OSHA will consider these reports to be a potentially serious violation and begin an investigation within three days of receiving the case.

The CDPH has established an Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, paid for by employers with 10 or more employees in standard industrial classifications where lead is used, altered, or disturbed. The program CDPH developed includes:

  • An occupational lead poisoning registry to monitor lab reports of adult lead toxicity.
  • Following up on reported lead poisoning cases to determine the source of the exposure.
  • Conducting investigations in cases where take-home exposure may be occurring.
  • Conducting training for employers, employees, and health professionals.
  • Making recommendations to prevent lead poisoning.

Keeping blood lead levels low

Employers can take several steps to help minimize their employees’ exposure to lead poisoning, which include the following:

  • Provide protective work clothing, gloves, and shoes to all employees exposed to lead.
  • Use proper engineering controls and personal protective equipment to prevent lead exposure.
  • Encourage frequent hand washing and prohibit eating and drinking in work areas to eliminate lead ingestion.
  • Clean and regularly test surfaces for lead in work areas, and clean more frequently when lead is found.
  • Train the workers in a language understandable to them on lead health hazards and safe handling.
  • Provide blood lead level (BLL) testing to all employees with potential for lead exposure to protect their health; don’t depend solely on personal airborne lead level measurements because lead ingestion is also a potential exposure pathway.

By minimizing exposures and following procedures in the Cal/OSHA lead regulations, you help reduce your employees’ risk of lead poisoning, protecting them and those around them.