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INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM - OSHA LEAD STANDARD

Structure and Organization

The OSHA Lead Standard information in this program is presented in a definite order, so that employees will see the relationships between the various groups of information and can retain them more easily. The sections included in the OSHA Lead Standard program are:

• OSHA's Lead Standards for Construction and General Industry.

• How Lead Can Affect the Body.

• Symptoms of Lead Exposure.

• Permissible Exposure Limits and Action Levels.

• Workplace Exposure Assessment and Air Monitoring.

• The Written Compliance Program Selection.

• Use of Respirators and Other PPE.

• Safe Work Practices.

• The Medical Surveillance Program.

Each section of the OSHA Lead Standard program covers important information in one topic area, providing employees with general knowledge about working in environments where they may encounter lead or lead-based materials.

Background

For years OSHA has been concerned about worker exposure to lead and lead-based materials. Both workplace experience and empirical studies have shown that lead contamination can cause serious health problems, even death, for exposed workers. Lead exposure can be due to many things, from removal of lead-based paint to working with lead itself.

Overexposure can occur both on an "acute" basis (where large amounts of lead are absorbed into the body in a short period of time) or on a long-term" basis (where small amounts of lead are absorbed at any one time, eventually accumulating to cause significant health problems).

As a result, in 1978 the OSHA Lead Standard was issued for the General Industry. However, this regulation did not apply to the Construction Industry. After pressure from Congress and courts, in 1 993 OSHA issued the interim final rule for lead exposure in construction. This Standard extended the same protection provided by the General Industry Standard to workers in construction environments.

As part of the training requirements of these two standards, all employees who may be exposed to lead or lead-based materials must go through detailed "initial training", as well as periodic " retraining " (on at least an annual basis).

Objectives

This program has been specifically designed to "reawaken " employees' awareness of how to work safely in environments where they may encounter lead or lead-based materials. It assumes that employees will remember basic information given to them in their initial training, and acts as a "refresher/reminder~ about selected important information.

Upon completion of the program, employees should have an increased awareness about:

• The OSHA Lead Standards.

• How lead overexposure can occur, its symptoms, and its affects on the body.

• How Potential Exposure to Lead is Assessed in Their Workplaces.

• What Permissible Exposure Limits and Action Levels are.

• How Engineering Controls, Work Practice Controls and Administrative Controls can be used to Limit Lead Exposure.

• How to select and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to protect themselves against overexposure to Lead.

• The mechanics of the Medical Surveillance Program.

Reviewing the Program

With the OSHA Lead Standard program, as with any educational program, the "presenter" should go through the entire program at least once to become familiar with the content and make sure the program is consistent with facility policy and directives. An "outline" of the points in the OSHA Lead Standard program is included in this Presenter's Guide to help with this task and for general reference.

As part of this review process, you should determine how you, as the presenter, will conduct your session. The use of materials such as handouts, charts, etc., that may be available to you needs to be well thought out and integrated into the overall OSHA Lead Standard program presentation.

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