Lead exposure is not as common in the roofing industry as it is
in some other construction trades. During the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration's (OSHA's) 2006 fiscal year, employees
from 15 construction industry categories, including roofing, were
assessed a total of $158,000 in penalties for violating OSHA's lead
standard (29 CFR 1926.62). The roofing industry was one of the
least affected by penalties during that year. However, recent
actions by OSHA ensure lead will be a topic of safety training and
compliance efforts.
A notice in the Sept. 27 issue of the Federal Register
states that after a recent regulatory review, OSHA will retain the
construction industry standard governing lead exposure but attempt
to improve outreach materials to help explain the lead standard to
workers. Additionally, OSHA plans to clarify the initial assessment
requirements under 29 CFR 1926.62(d) in an effort to reduce costs
and simplify compliance for small businesses. OSHA also plans to
work with other federal agencies to develop a unified training
curriculum regarding lead exposures in construction.
The review's purpose was to determine whether OSHA's lead
standard could be revised to reduce the burden on employers without
reducing worker protection. The impetus for the review was public
comments and data addressing blood lead levels and exposure levels
among construction workers that became available after the
original...
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