California Nears Approving Nation’s Toughest Lead Exposure Rules

The nation’s toughest rules for on-the-job lead exposure are set for a vote from California workplace safety regulators.

If the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approves the requirements on Thursday—one for construction, one for general industry—the California business mandates would likely take effect July 1. Enforcement would start six months later.

The allowable amount of airborne lead in workplaces would drop 80% from current state and federal requirements, which were set about 40 years ago. The amount of lead in blood that would mandate that employers reassign workers to jobs with less lead exposure would decrease 40%. ...