1910.1025(i)(4): Lunchrooms for Lead-Exposed Workers
Employers must provide lunchroom facilities for employees whose airborne lead exposure is above the PEL, regardless of respirator use, with a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, readily accessible. Those employees must wash their hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics, and must not enter the lunchroom in protective work clothing or equipment unless surface lead dust has been removed.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1025(i)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 11 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $24,215 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (4), OH (2), TN (2).
- Related part: 1910.1025(i) Hygiene facilities and practices (58 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(4) ("Lunchrooms") is one requirement inside 1910.1025 Lead, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 4 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
(4) Lunchrooms. 11 citations
(i) The employer shall provide lunchroom facilities for employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators.
(ii) The employer shall assure that lunchroom facilities have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and are readily accessible to employees. 3 citations
(iii) The employer shall assure that employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL without regard to the use of a respirator wash their hands and face prior to eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics. 2 citations
(iv) The employer shall assure that employees do not enter lunchroom facilities with protective work clothing or equipment unless surface lead dust has been removed by vacuuming, downdraft booth, or other cleaning method. Open (i)(4)(iv) 6 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 | 1 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Top states: IL (4), OH (2), TN (2), OK (1), CT (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| MAYCO MANUFACTURING, LLC DBA MAYCO INDUSTRIES, INC. | GRANITE CITY, IL | $7,986 |
| AMERICAN BRONZE CORP. | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,000 |
| TMG SERVICE COMPANY, LLC | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $4,500 |
| HANKOOK & COMPANY ES AMERICA CORP. | CLARKSVILLE, TN | $3,000 |
| C & Y GROUP CLEVELAND, INC. | BRATENAHL, OH | $1,729 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1025(i)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of "as free as practicable" lead contamination on surfaces (2025-09-29)
- Request for temporary variance to housekeeping requirements for vacuuming under the lead standard; Criteria for portable vacuum machines for vacuuming clothing. (1979-06-04)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.1025(i) Hygiene facilities and practices 58 citations
- 1910.1025(i)(3) Showers 28 citations
- 1910.1025(i)(3)(i) 16 citations
- 1910.1025(i)(2) Change rooms 16 citations
- 1910.1025(i)(2)(i) 14 citations
- 1910.1025(i)(4)(iv) 6 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
Who must have a lead-safe lunchroom?
Employees who work where their airborne lead exposure is above the PEL, without regard to respirator use.
What air supply must the lunchroom have?
A temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply.
Can I wear work clothes into the lunchroom?
Only if surface lead dust has been removed by vacuuming, a downdraft booth or another cleaning method.
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.