1910.1025(c): Lead Exposure Limit
Employers must make sure no employee is exposed to lead above 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an 8-hour period. For workdays longer than 8 hours, the limit drops by the formula 400 divided by hours worked. When respirators are properly used under paragraph (f), exposure may be counted at the level the respirator's protection factor provides.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1025(c) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 39 times in the last 3 years, in 38 inspections, with $219,772 in current penalties.
- Most citations: MI (5), TN (5), FL (3).
- Related part: 1910.1025(c)(1) (35 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1025(c) ("Permissible exposure limit (PEL)") is one requirement inside 1910.1025 Lead, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(c) Permissible exposure limit (PEL). 39 citations
(1) The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3) averaged over an 8-hour period. Open (c)(1) 35 citations
(2) If an employee is exposed to lead for more than 8 hours in any work day, the permissible exposure limit, as a time weighted average (TWA) for that day, shall be reduced according to the following formula: 4 citations
Maximum permissible limit (in µg/m3) = 400 ÷ hours worked in the day.
(3) When respirators are used to supplement engineering and work practice controls to comply with the PEL and all the requirements of paragraph (f) have been met, employee exposure, for the purpose of determining whether the employer has complied with the PEL, may be considered to be at the level provided by the protection factor of the respirator for those periods the respirator is worn. Those periods may be averaged with exposure levels during periods when respirators are not worn to determine the employee's daily TWA exposure.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1025.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: MI (5), TN (5), FL (3), NJ (2), KY (2)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| LONG SHOT PISTOL & RIFLE, LLC | SECAUCUS, NJ | $28,000 |
| NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE INC. | CLARKSVILLE, TN | $17,500 |
| OLIN WINCHESTER, LLC | EAST ALTON, IL | $16,550 |
| SHOOTERS WORLD, LLC | TAMPA, FL | $11,585 |
| EDWARD ARNOLD SCRAP PROCESSORS, INC. | CORFU, NY | $11,585 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1025(c), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1025(c).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1025(c)(1) 35 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What is the PEL for lead in general industry?
Fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3) averaged over an 8-hour period.
What if I work more than 8 hours?
The limit for that day is reduced using the formula: maximum permissible limit (µg/m3) = 400 ÷ hours worked in the day.
Do respirators count toward meeting the PEL?
When used to supplement engineering and work practice controls and all of paragraph (f) is met, exposure may be considered at the level provided by the respirator's protection factor while it is worn.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.1025 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-21
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.