OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewHealth Hazards in ConstructionHard
A construction worker is regularly exposed to lead dust during renovation work in an old building. OSHA requires medical surveillance for employees exposed to lead at or above the Action Level. What is the Action Level for lead in construction?
- A30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³)
- B50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³)
- C100 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³)
- D10 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³)
OSHA's lead standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.62) mandates medical surveillance for employees exposed to lead at or above the Action Level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³) averaged over an 8-hour period.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 50 µg/m³ is the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for lead in construction, not the Action Level.
- C. 100 µg/m³ is significantly higher than the PEL and Action Level, and is not an OSHA-defined limit for lead exposure.
- D. 10 µg/m³ is the Action Level for general industry, not construction.
OSHA Lead Action Level (Construction)
The Action Level for lead in construction is an airborne concentration of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 µg/m³), averaged over an 8-hour period, which triggers specific OSHA requirements like medical surveillance.
- 30 µg/m³ over 8 hours.
- Triggers medical surveillance, training, and exposure monitoring.
- Distinct from the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).
Memory trick: Thirty for Action, Fifty for PEL, Lead's a hazard, we know it well.