The purpose of this program is to protect employees from lead exposure. The program will apply to any potential exposure to lead, including but not limited to the removal of paint by any UO employee unless testing has shown that the surface does not contain lead or the building was built after 1978. Potential lead exposure from sources other than lead-based paint are also covered by this program.

EHS will be responsible for administrating and managing the lead exposure program, assisting departments in evaluating potential lead exposures, reviewing medical history of employees with potential lead exposure, consulting with the contract Occupational Health Physician, coordinating necessary environmental testing and conducting periodic workplace inspections to insure the program is working effectively.

This written program will be available to any employee upon request.

Responsibilities

Departmental - Departments will be responsible for carrying out the Lead Exposure Protection Program in accordance with this written program, including associated expenses of air and medical monitoring. 

Employees - Employees will be responsible for complying with procedures established by their supervisors to minimize the potential lead exposure and inform their supervisor if they have health concerns that may be pertinent to lead exposure so the supervisor can arrange for appropriate consultations for the issue. 

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) - EHS will be responsible for administering and managing the Lead Exposure Program, assisting departments in evaluating potential lead exposures, reviewing medical history of employees with potential lead exposure, consulting with the contract Occupational Health Physician, coordinating necessary environmental testing, and conducting periodic workplace inspections to insure the program is working effectively. 

Supervisor - Supervisors will be responsible for identifying potential employee exposures to lead, developing standard operating procedures for routine work to comply with the UO written program, scheduling air monitoring with EHS, scheduling employees for necessary medical testing, and informing EHS of employee health concerns with potential exposures to lead. 

Trainings

Employees with potential exposure to airborne lead will be informed of the contents of Appendices A & B of OAR 437 Division 2, Subdivision Z (1910.1025). It shall be the responsibility of the individual supervisors to notify EHS of the employment of a new employee or the new task for an existing employee that will require training and/or medical monitoring. It shall be the responsibility of EHS to train or delegate the training of the new employee.

Annual retraining is required for those employees subject to exposures at or above the action level or for whom the possibility of skin or eye irritation exists.

Compliance

This program is designed to assure that the university is in compliance with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health rules 1910.1025 for lead. It is expected that any contractor working for the UO will be in compliance with the OR-OSHA program and perform work in a manner to minimize exposure to university employees, students and visitors.

Contacts

Adam Jones, Environmental Services Manager (P) 541-346-8397