OSHA has begun the process of revising its standards for occupational exposure to lead for general industry and construction, which will impact some non-ferrous foundries. The agency’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) published on June 28 stems from recent medical research findings that adverse health effects in adults can... more

OSHA has begun the process of revising its standards for occupational exposure to lead for general industry and construction, which will impact some non-ferrous foundries. The agency’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) published on June 28 stems from recent medical research findings that adverse health effects in adults can occur at lower blood lead levels than those required by the agency’s current standards.

The agency is seeking input from interested stakeholders on over 60 questions including reducing the current blood lead level triggers in the medical removal protection and medical surveillance provisions of its current lead standards. The agency is also asking for comments related to how current ancillary provisions in the standards could be modified to reduce workers’ blood lead levels. Another area OSHA seeks input on is whether it should consider reducing its current permissible exposure limit of 50 µg/m³ of lead over an eight-hour time-weighted average or its action level of 30 µg/m³. less