Lead - SAIF Corporation

Industrial Hygiene Lead-General Industrywww.saif.comThe medical examination is to include work history and a medical history withparticular attention to past lead exposure, personal habits, past gastrointestinal,hematological, renal, cardiovascular, reproductive and neurological problems. Aphysical examination must include: attention to the teeth, gums, blood,gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular and neurological systems and blood pressure.The blood work includes: blood lead level; hemoglobin and hematocritdeterminations, red cell indices, cell morphology; zinc protoporphrin; blood ureanitrogen and serum creatinine.If the employer selects the initial examining physician, then the employee isallowed to select a second physician. All employees must be notified of the rightfor a second opinion.The employer must provide the examining physicians with the followinginformation:1) A copy of the OR-OSHA lead standard2) A description of the affected employee’s duties3) The employee’s exposure level or anticipated level to lead or anyother toxic substance4) A description of any personal protective equipment used5) Prior blood lead determinations6) All prior written medical opinions concerning the employee underthe employers controlThe employer is to obtain and furnish the employee with a copy of the writtenmedical opinion. This must include the opinion as to whether the employee cansafely work at the assigned job, any special protective measures indicated, anylimitations on employee’s use of respirators and the blood lead results.The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead ator above the action level on each occasion that the average of the last three bloodsampling tests conducted pursuant to this section (or the average of all bloodsampling tests conducted over the previous six months, whichever is longer)indicates that the employee’s blood lead level is at or above 50 µg/100 g of wholeblood; provided, however, that an employee need not be removed if the last bloodsampling test indicates a blood lead level at or below 40 µg/100 g of whole blood.Employee Training and InformationAll employers who have a work place which has a potential exposure to airbornelead at any level should inform their employees of the content of Appendixes A andB of the OR-OSHA lead standard.The employer should provide training prior to the time of job assignment and annuallythereafter for all employees who are potentially exposed to airborne lead at or abovethe action level. Those employees who have the possibility of skin or eye irritation fromlead exposure should also be included in the training.© SAIF Corporation Page 12 of 22 SS-412 July 2010