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Introduction - Lead Exposure in Construction Policy
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) interim
final standard for "Lead Exposure in Construction
29 CFR 1926.62" became effective on June 3, 1993.
This standard reduces the permitted level of exposure
to lead for construction workers. The standard also includes
requirements addressing exposure assessment, methods
of compliance, respiratory protection, protective clothing
and equipment, hygiene facilities and practices, employee
information and training, signs, recordkeeping, and observation
of monitoring.
Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that can
cause adverse health effects. These effects include peripheral
and central nervous system dysfunction, deficiency in
the oxygen-carrying material of the blood (anemia), mental
retardation and death. Lead has no beneficial biological
effect.
Fetuses and young children are particularly
susceptible to lead. Considerable data suggest a correlation
between elevated blood lead and delays in early neurological
and physical development, cognitive and behavior alterations,
alterations in red blood cell metabolism and vitamin
D synthesis, and kidney impairment.
Adults are also at risk. A positive association
has been found in adult males between elevated blood
lead and hypertension. Lead has also been associated
with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Since
lead is stored in bone, it may be mobilized during periods
of stress, during pregnancy, and among people suffering
from osteoporosis. Lead exposure also may play a role
in miscarriages and in damage to the male reproductive
system.
In response to the health risks of working
with lead and the University of Maryland at Baltimore's
(UMB) on going commitment to provide a safe and healthy
working environment, the following policy has been adopted.
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