CDPH Lead Inspector/Assessor California State Practice Exam

At what BLL should an employer remove an employee from lead work?

1. 40 μg/dL

2. 50 μg/dL (on two consecutive tests within two weeks)

3. 60 μg/dL

4. 70 μg/dL

The correct answer is: 50 μg/dL (on two consecutive tests within two weeks)

The correct choice is based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for lead exposure in the workplace. According to OSHA regulations, an employer is required to remove an employee from lead exposure when an employee's blood lead level (BLL) reaches 50 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) as indicated by two consecutive tests taken within a two-week period. This specific threshold is established to protect workers from the adverse health effects of lead exposure. The reasoning behind this is that high levels of lead in the blood can be indicative of significant lead absorption, which poses serious health risks, including neurological and cardiovascular problems, and can affect multiple organ systems. By enforcing a removal policy at 50 μg/dL, employers can take preventive measures to ensure employee health and safety. Other levels, while important to be aware of, do not align with the requirement for removal under OSHA guidelines. 40 μg/dL, for example, may indicate an elevated level of lead but does not meet the criteria for mandatory removal. The higher thresholds of 60 μg/dL and 70 μg/dL, while concerning, would not trigger an employer's responsibility to act by removing the employee, as the defined threshold for removal