The lead air number from the page that covers this job belongs on today's record, alongside the page name.
Key takeaways for which lead exposure numbers to write down before paint is disturbed
- The federal page states that the employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms/cubic meter of air (50 micrograms/m3) according to Legal Information Institute.
- The California page states that the employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of lead greater than 10 micrograms/cubic meter of air (10 micrograms/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) according to California Department of Industrial Relations.
- The Washington page states that you must ensure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than 50 micrograms/cubic meter of air (50 micrograms/m3) averaged over an 8-hour period according to Washington State Legislature.
Which lead number belongs on today's record, in one paragraph
Write the airborne concentration limit from the specific regulatory page that governs your location and task. California's rule defines its action level as employee exposure to an airborne concentration of lead of 2 micrograms/cubic meter of air (2 micrograms/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), according to California Department of Industrial Relations. Washington's rule defines the term as employee exposure to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms/cubic meter of air (30 micrograms/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), according to Washington State Legislature. Do not copy a number from a different jurisdiction's page onto your site record. Identify the page that applies to your project location. Record the specific microgram value printed on that page. This prevents the crew from using a federal limit on a California job or a Washington limit on a federal site. The number you write down must match the regulatory text for the exact location where paint or coatings are being disturbed. Check the page title to confirm the jurisdiction. Verify the unit is micrograms/cubic meter of air. Ensure the calculation method matches the 8-hour time-weighted average specified in the source. If the page specifies a different average period, record that qualifier. The goal is a clear, single data point that tells the crew which exposure limit applies to today's work. Do not average numbers from multiple pages. Do not estimate based on previous projects. Use the printed value from the current regulatory text. This record supports the safety plan for the day. It provides a baseline for monitoring decisions. It clarifies which threshold triggers specific control measures. The number is a fact from the source page, not an opinion. Cite the page name so anyone reviewing the record knows where the number came from. This creates a traceable link between the site activity and the regulatory requirement. If the job spans multiple jurisdictions, identify the page for each area. Write the applicable number for each area on the record. Keep the entries separate to avoid confusion. The record should be clear enough for a new supervisor to understand which limit applies without asking questions. Focus on the exact wording of the definition in the source. Do not paraphrase the unit or the average period. Copy the value and the unit exactly as printed. This ensures accuracy in the site documentation. A wrong number can lead to inadequate controls or unnecessary shutdowns. The correct number ensures the crew works within the specific limits of the governing page. Check the date of the regulatory text if available. Use the current version of the page. Do not rely on old copies of the rule. This step takes only a few minutes but prevents significant errors in the safety plan. This simple action supports the entire safety strategy for the day's paint disturbance work.
The federal action level and the 50 microgram limit
If the initial or subsequent determination reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but at or below the PEL, the employer shall perform monitoring at least every 6 months, according to Legal Information Institute. This 6-month interval applies specifically to the range where exposure is not below the action level but does not exceed the PEL. The page defines the action level as the threshold that triggers this periodic monitoring requirement. When a crew disturbs paint or coatings, the supervisor must verify which exposure range applies to the task. If the measured air concentration sits in this middle band, the 6-month monitoring cycle begins or continues. The record should note the specific determination that placed the exposure in this category.
The same federal page also defines a removal line based on blood sampling results. The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that a periodic and a follow-up blood sampling test indicate that the employee's blood lead level is at or above 50 micrograms/dl, according to Legal Information Institute. This 50 micrograms/dl figure is a blood lead level threshold, not an air concentration limit. It triggers removal from work when the employee's exposure is already at or above the action level. The distinction matters for the site record: the air number and the blood number are different measurements with different units and different triggers. The 50 micrograms/dl value belongs to the blood sampling context described on this page.
California's 2 microgram action level and 10 microgram limit
The California page sets specific air thresholds that differ from the federal lines. When you prepare the site record for a job where California rules apply, you must identify the action level and the exposure limit printed on that specific page. This number triggers the requirement for the employer to perform monitoring.
The page also prints a higher limit for general exposure. This 10 microgram figure is the exposure limit for standard work conditions under this state rule. It is distinct from the federal 50 microgram limit and the federal 30 microgram action level.
There is a specific exception for abrasive blasting. This 25 microgram exception applies only to employees conducting abrasive blasting. If your crew is not performing abrasive blasting, the 10 microgram limit applies. If they are, the 25 microgram exception applies until the date specified. Write the applicable number on the record based on the task being performed.
Washington's 30 microgram definition and 50 microgram limit
When the job site is in Washington, the record must reflect the state's specific air exposure lines. The Washington State Legislature defines the allowable employee exposure using a formula that adjusts for the length of the workday. According to Washington State Legislature, the allowable employee exposure in micrograms/m3 is calculated as 400 divided by the hours worked in the day. This calculation is tied to the concept of a long shift, meaning the limit changes based on the duration of the employee's presence on site. The page title for this rule is "WAC 296-155-17607:". Do not treat this number as a fixed constant independent of shift length; the source explicitly links the exposure value to the hours worked.
Before any paint or coating is disturbed, the employer must perform an initial determination of exposure levels. According to Washington State Legislature, each employer who has a workplace or operation covered by this standard must initially determine if any employee may be exposed to lead at or above the action level. The page title for this requirement is "WAC 296-155-17609:". This step ensures that the crew is aware of whether the lead levels in the air meet the threshold that triggers further controls or monitoring.
The 50 microgram line represents the exposure limit that must not be exceeded. When writing the site record, the contractor must note which of these lines applies to the specific task. If the work involves disturbing lead-based paint, the air concentration must be checked against these Washington-specific values. The distinction between the action level and the limit is critical for compliance.
A filled reference table of the lead lines by publisher
The table below lists the action level and exposure limit for GovRegs only, a public copy of the federal page and not a state rule.
| Publisher | Action Level | Exposure Limit | Scope Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GovRegs | 30 micrograms/m3 | 50 micrograms/m3 | Public copy of the federal rule, not a second state |
GovRegs defines the action level as employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms/cubic meter of air (30 micrograms/m3) according to GovRegs. The same page states that the employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms/cubic meter of air (50 micrograms/m3) according to GovRegs.
When the initial or subsequent determination reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but at or below the PEL, the employer shall perform monitoring at least every 6 months according to GovRegs. The employer shall remove an employee from work having an exposure to lead at or above the action level on each occasion that a periodic and a follow-up blood sampling test indicate that the employee's blood lead level is at or above 50 micrograms/dl according to GovRegs.
GovRegs is a public copy of the federal rule, not a second state. Keep the claim tied to this named source and its own page. Do not treat one publisher's number as another publisher's number.
Illustrative example of one California paint job
A supervisor on a California job disturbs coatings and does no abrasive blasting. On the site record the supervisor writes an action level of 2 micrograms/cubic meter of air and an exposure limit of 10 micrograms/cubic meter of air, each calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average, and writes the California page name beside those figures. The federal 30 microgram action level and 50 microgram limit stay off that record. A separate Washington job would instead use 30 and 50 micrograms/cubic meter of air from the Washington pages. This walk-through uses round figures only to show where each number goes.
Today's lead number and page name
The number you write must match the page that governs your work, not a general reference. If your job falls under the federal standard, the 50 microgram line is the one to record. If a state rule applies, use the number printed on that state's page. Each number belongs to its own publisher and page. This ensures the record is traceable and accurate for the specific task at hand. File it with the day's other checks, using the Construction Daily Log Checklist for Supervisors, the silica-control records pattern, and the noise-assessment logs pattern.
FAQ about the lead lines before paint work
What does the federal page call the action level?
The federal page defines the action level as employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms/cubic meter of air (30 micrograms/m3), according to Legal Information Institute. This definition appears in the text of 29 CFR § 1926.62. The number is tied specifically to the federal rule text provided by this source.
What limit does the federal page print?
The federal page states that the employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms/cubic meter of air (50 micrograms/m3), according to Legal Information Institute. This is the exposure limit printed in the section titled 29 CFR § 1926.62 - Lead. The limit is distinct from the action level defined in the same source.
What does California print?
California prints an action level defined as employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 2 micrograms/cubic meter of air (2 micrograms/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), according to California Department of Industrial Relations. The same source prints an exposure limit ensuring that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of lead greater than 10 micrograms/cubic meter of air (10 micrograms/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), according to California Department of Industrial Relations. These numbers are specific to the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 1532.1.
What does Washington print?
Washington prints an action level defined as employee exposure, without regard to the use of respirators, to an airborne concentration of lead of 30 micrograms/cubic meter of air (30 micrograms/m3) calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), according to Washington State Legislature. The Washington source also prints an exposure limit requiring that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than 50 micrograms/cubic meter of air (50 micrograms/m3) averaged over an 8-hour period, according to Washington State Legislature. These lines are found in WAC 296-155-17605 and WAC 296-155-17607 respectively.
What to write down before the work starts?
If the job falls under federal jurisdiction, record the 30 micrograms/m3 action level or 50 micrograms/m3 limit from the federal page. If the job is in Washington, record the 30 micrograms/m3 action level or 50 micrograms/m3 limit from the Washington page.