1910.1025(j)(1): Lead Medical Surveillance Program
Employers must set up a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days per year. Exams must be performed by or under a licensed physician, at no cost to employees and at a reasonable time and place, including multiple physician review.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1025(j)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 15 times in the last 3 years, in 15 inspections, with $39,571 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (2), NJ (1), CT (1).
- Related part: 1910.1025(j) Medical surveillance (33 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(1) ("General") 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
(1) General. 15 citations
(i) The employer shall institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days per year. Open (j)(1)(i) 15 citations
(ii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician.
(iii) The employer shall provide the required medical surveillance including multiple physician review under paragraph (j)(3)(iii) without cost to employees and at a reasonable time and place.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1025.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: NY (2), NJ (1), CT (1), OH (1), PA (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| AMDEP HOLDINGS LLC | KISSIMMEE, FL | $9,268 |
| CIMCO RESOURCES, INC. | ROCK FALLS, IL | $7,500 |
| CALEDONIA DIESEL LLC | CALEDONIA, NY | $5,959 |
| HEARING PROTECTION LLC | WATERTOWN, WI | $4,635 |
| GAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC. | SAXONBURG, PA | $4,050 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1025(j)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Medical exams and blood testing for zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) under OSHA's Lead Standards. (2009-12-04)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1025(j) Medical surveillance 33 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(1)(i) 15 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(2) Biological monitoring 13 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(2)(i) Blood lead and ZPP level sampling and analysis 11 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(3) Medical examinations and consultations 5 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(3)(v) Written medical opinions 1 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(2)(ii) Follow-up blood sampling tests 1 citations
- 1910.1025(j)(3)(iii) Multiple physician review mechanism
- 1910.1025(j)(3)(v)(B)
- 1910.1025(j)(4) Chelation
- 1910.1025(j)(2)(iii) Accuracy of blood lead level sampling and analysis
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
Who must be in the medical surveillance program?
All employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days per year.
Who performs the exams?
A licensed physician, or others under a licensed physician's supervision.
Do employees pay for medical surveillance?
No. It must be provided without cost to employees.
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.