Sec.19a-111-6. Worker protection

(a) Health monitoring—The employer shall provide medical examination and monitoring for lead abatement workers.

(1) Information to physicians—The employer shall instruct any examining physician to:

(A) not reveal to the employer any findings unrelated to a worker's occupational exposure to lead;

(B) advise the worker of any medical condition, occupational or nonoccupational, which dictates further medical examination or treatment;

(C) provide the worker with a clear warning of the reproductive and other health hazards of exposure to high levels of lead.

(2) Employment physical—Health monitoring on all lead abatement workers shall include an employment medical examination by a licensed physician which shall consist of:

(A) a work and medical history;

(B) blood pressure measurement;

(C) blood lead level and erythrocyte protoporphyrin level;

(D) complete blood count;

(E) blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, routine urinalysis;

(F) other evaluations deemed necessary by the attending physician.

(3) Periodic monitoring—Lead abatement workers shall have blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin tests monthly for the first three (3) months of employment and every three (3) months thereafter.

(4) Physician's report—Within two (2) working days after the receipt of a medical report from the physician the employer shall furnish the applicant with a copy of a written medical report from the physician which contains:

(A) the physician's opinion as to whether the applicant has any detected medical condition which would place the applicant at increased health risk;

(B) any recommended special protective measures to be provided to the applicant, or limitations to be placed upon the applicant's exposure to lead;

(C) any recommended limitation upon the applicant's use of respirators.

(b) Management of lead poisoned workers

(1) At blood lead level 25-50 ug/dl the following procedures shall apply.

(A) The attending physician shall report the elevated blood lead level to the individual and to the Department.

(B) The attending physician shall determine if there are symptoms of lead poisoning. If symptoms exist then the provisions of subdivision 19a-111-6 (b) (2) of regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall be followed.

(C) The attending physician shall contact the affected individual and arrange for repeat blood lead level and erythrocyte protoporphyrin measurement within one (1) month and repeat blood lead level and erythrocyte protoporphyrin measurement until the blood lead level drops below 25 ug/dl.

(D) The attending physician shall notify the employer of the affected individual that this worker has an elevated blood lead level.

(2) In addition to the procedures in subdivision (1) of this subsection, at a blood lead level of greater than 50 ug/dl the following procedures shall also apply.

(A) The attending physician shall arrange for blood lead and erythrocyte protopor-phyrin testing every month until the blood lead level drops below 25 ug/dl.

(B) Until the worker's blood lead is less than 50 ug/dl and exhibits no symptoms of lead poisoning, the worker shall be removed from work. The worker may not return to work until a recommendation to start work from the attending physician is received by the worker with a written copy sent to the Department.

(c) Employer responsibility

The employer is responsible for any costs incurred as a result of the health monitoring system.

(d) Personal protective equipment and precautions

(1) The employer shall ensure that all lead abatement workers wear work clothing and protective equipment during the lead abatement procedure. Such clothing shall include but not necessarily be limited to:

(A) when caustic paste is not used as a deleading agent—

(i) coveralls or similar full body covering,

(ii) shoe covers,

(iii) gloves,

(iv) hats,

(v) face shields, vented goggles or other eye protection equipment;

(B) or, when caustic paste is used as a deleading agent—

(i) full-body overalls impervious to caustic substances,

(ii) gloves impervious to caustic substances,

(iii) glove extenders,

(iv) face shield when workers are applying or removing any caustic substance at or above face level,

(v) appropriate boot or shoe covers;

(C) respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) selected according to the type of abatement process as listed below (or, air monitoring may be used according to OSHA lead standard (29 CFR 1910.1025) to demonstrate which form of respiratory protection is appropriate)—

(i) for use while vacuum sanding with HEPA filter, scraping and with heat guns—powered air-purifying respirator with high efficiency filters, or the half mask supplied-air respirator operated in the positive-pressure mode;

(ii) for use with caustic materials or during abatement involving replacement— half-mask, air-purifying respirator equipped with high efficiency filters;

(iii) for use with a chemical preparation (for example, a solvent) in conjunction with a mechanical or powered technique—an additional cartridge, appropriate to the exposure, unless a supplied-air respirator is used. Any additional cartridge must meet the requirements of the OSHA/MSHA certification for contaminants appropriate to the exposure.

(2) The employer shall:

(A) maintain records on health monitoring tests required on workers for two (2) years;

(B) provide protective clothing in a clean and dry condition daily;

(C) provide for the cleaning, laundering or disposal of protective clothing or equipment;

(D) repair or replace protective equipment as necessary to maintain its effectiveness;

(E) ensure that all protective clothing is removed only in designated change areas at the completion of a work shift;

(F) ensure that contaminated protective clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered or disposed of, is placed in a closed container located in the designated change area which prevents dispersion of lead outside the container;

(G) inform, in writing, any person who cleans or launders protective clothing and equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to lead;

(H) ensure that the containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment required by these regulations are labeled as follows: CAUTION CLOTHING CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD. DO NOT REMOVE DUST BY BLOWING OR SHAKING. DISPOSE OF LEAD CONTAMINATED WASH WATER IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS;

(I) prohibit the removal of lead from protective clothing or equipment by blowing, shaking or any other means which disperses lead into the air.

(e) Hygiene facilities and practices—The employer shall ensure that:

(1) food or beverage is not present or consumed, smoking or chewing of tobacco is not allowed, and cosmetics are not applied in the lead abatement areas;

(2) designated change areas are equipped with separate storage facilities for equipment and protective clothing and for street clothes to prevent contamination with lead;

(3) plastic with a minimum thickness of 6 mils shall cover the walls and floor;

(4) no person shall exit the changing area to enter the work area unless they are equipped in conformance with subsection 19a-111-6 (d) of the regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(5) no contaminated person shall exit this area unless such person has removed their protective clothing, gloves, boot or shoe covers, and respirator;

(6) nor will a person in any other way cause lead contamination to enter the non-work area;

(7) employees do not leave the job site wearing any clothing or equipment, worn during the work shift, that may be contaminated with lead;

(8) employees in lead abatement areas wash their hands prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics.

(Effective September 29, 1992)