1910.1025(g): Lead Protective Clothing and Equipment
When an employee is exposed to lead above the PEL, without regard to respirators, or where skin or eye irritation is possible, employers must provide at no cost and ensure use of protective clothing and equipment such as coveralls, gloves, hats, shoes or coverlets, and face shields or goggles. Clean clothing must be provided at least weekly, or daily above 200 µg/m3, and removed only in change rooms, with contaminated items placed in closed containers.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1025(g) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 35 times in the last 3 years, in 28 inspections, with $71,691 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (8), IL (5), WI (4).
- Related part: 1910.1025(g)(2) Cleaning and replacement (20 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1025(g) ("Protective work clothing and equipment") is one requirement inside 1910.1025 Lead, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 15 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
(g) Protective work clothing and equipment — 35 citations
(1) Provision and use. If an employee is exposed to lead above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators or where the possibility of skin or eye irritation exists, the employer shall provide at no cost to the employee and assure that the employee uses appropriate protective work clothing and equipment such as, but not limited to: Open (g)(1) 15 citations
(i) Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing;
(ii) Gloves, hats, and shoes or disposable shoe coverlets; and 1 citations
(iii) Face shields, vented goggles, or other appropriate protective equipment which complies with § 1910.133 of this Part.
(2) Cleaning and replacement. Open (g)(2) 20 citations
(i) The employer shall provide the protective clothing required in paragraph (g)(1) of this section in a clean and dry condition at least weekly, and daily to employees whose exposure levels without regard to a respirator are over 200 µg/m3 of lead as an 8-hour TWA.
(ii) The employer shall provide for the cleaning, laundering, or disposal of protective clothing and equipment required by paragraph (g)(1) of this section. 2 citations
(iii) The employer shall repair or replace required protective clothing and equipment as needed to maintain their effectiveness.
(iv) The employer shall assure that all protective clothing is removed at the completion of a work shift only in change rooms provided for that purpose as prescribed in paragraph (i)(2) of this section. 2 citations
(v) The employer shall assure that contaminated protective clothing which is to be cleaned, laundered, or disposed of, is placed in a closed container in the change-room which prevents dispersion of lead outside the container. 5 citations
(vi) The employer shall inform in writing any person who cleans or launders protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to lead. 1 citations
(vii) Labeling of contaminated protective clothing and equipment. 7 citations
(A) The employer shall ensure that labels of bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment include the following information: 5 citations
DANGER: CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD. MAY DAMAGE FERTILITY OR THE UNBORN CHILD. CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR SMOKE WHEN HANDLING. DO NOT REMOVE DUST BY BLOWING OR SHAKING. DISPOSE OF LEAD CONTAMINATED WASH WATER IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
(B) Prior to June 1, 2015, employers may include the following information on bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment in lieu of the labeling requirements in paragraphs (g)(2)(vii)(A) of this section:
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, OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
(viii) The employer shall prohibit the removal of lead from protective clothing or equipment by blowing, shaking, or any other means which disperses lead into the air. 3 citations
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 | 19 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 7 |
Top states: TN (8), IL (5), WI (4), NJ (3), PA (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | JANESVILLE, WI | $16,131 |
| SHOOTERS WORLD, LLC | TAMPA, FL | $11,585 |
| CTS CORPORATION | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $9,562 |
| LONG SHOT PISTOL & RIFLE, LLC | SECAUCUS, NJ | $6,000 |
| HEARING PROTECTION LLC | WATERTOWN, WI | $4,635 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1025(g), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.1025(g).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1025(g)(2) Cleaning and replacement 20 citations
- 1910.1025(g)(1) Provision and use 15 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How often must clean lead protective clothing be provided?
At least weekly, and daily to employees whose exposure without regard to a respirator is over 200 µg/m3 of lead as an 8-hour TWA.
Where must protective clothing be removed?
Only in change rooms provided for that purpose at the completion of a work shift.
Who pays for lead protective clothing?
The employer provides it at no cost to the employee.
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.