1910.1025(i): Lead Hygiene Facilities and Practices
Where workers are exposed to lead above the PEL, regardless of respirator use, employers must keep food, drinks, tobacco and cosmetics out of those areas, except in the required change rooms, lunchrooms and showers. Employers must provide clean change rooms with separate storage for work and street clothes, showers at the end of the shift, and filtered, positive pressure lunchrooms.
Key takeaways
- 1910.1025(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910).
- OSHA cited it 58 times in the last 3 years, in 32 inspections, with $93,004 in current penalties.
- Most citations: TN (10), MI (9), WI (9).
- Related part: 1910.1025(i)(3) Showers (28 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.1025(i) ("Hygiene facilities and practices") is one requirement inside 1910.1025 Lead, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910). It includes 14 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
(i) Hygiene facilities and practices. 58 citations
(1) The employer shall assure that in areas where employees are exposed to lead above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators, food or beverage is not present or consumed, tobacco products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, except in change rooms, lunchrooms, and showers required under paragraphs (i)(2) through (i)(4) of this section. 3 citations
(2) Change rooms. Open (i)(2) 16 citations
(i) The employer shall provide clean change rooms for employees who work in areas where their airborne exposure to lead is above the PEL, without regard to the use of respirators. Open (i)(2)(i) 14 citations
(ii) The employer shall assure that change rooms are equipped with separate storage facilities for protective work clothing and equipment and for street clothes which prevent cross-contamination. 1 citations
(3) Showers. Open (i)(3) 28 citations
(i) 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 respirators, shower at the end of the work shift. Open (i)(3)(i) 16 citations
(ii) The employer shall provide shower facilities in accordance with § 1910.141 (d)(3) of this part. 8 citations
(iii) The employer shall assure that employees who are required to shower pursuant to paragraph (i)(3)(i) do not leave the workplace wearing any clothing or equipment worn during the work shift. 4 citations
(4) Lunchrooms. Open (i)(4) 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
(5) Lavatories. The employer shall provide an adequate number of lavatory facilities which comply with § 1910.141(d) (1) and (2) of this part.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.1025.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 18 |
Top states: TN (10), MI (9), WI (9), IL (7), PA (4)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | JANESVILLE, WI | $16,131 |
| SHOOTERS WORLD, LLC | TAMPA, FL | $11,585 |
| MAYCO MANUFACTURING, LLC DBA MAYCO INDUSTRIES, INC. | GRANITE CITY, IL | $7,986 |
| AMERICAN BRONZE CORP. | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,000 |
| APC INTERNATIONAL LTD | MILL HALL, PA | $6,488 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.1025(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Clarification of "as free as practicable" lead contamination on surfaces (2025-09-29)
- The lead standard does not address pay for showering. (1981-10-22)
- 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)(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) Lunchrooms 11 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
Can workers eat or drink in areas with lead above the PEL?
No. Food, beverages, tobacco and cosmetics are not allowed in those areas, except in the required change rooms, lunchrooms and showers.
Do lead workers have to shower before leaving?
Yes. Employees who work where airborne lead is above the PEL must shower at the end of the work shift and may not leave wearing clothing or equipment worn during the shift.
What must the lunchroom have?
A temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and it must be readily accessible 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.