1926.62(j)(1): Lead Medical Surveillance in Construction
Construction employers must make initial medical surveillance, blood sampling for lead and zinc protoporphyrin, available to employees exposed on any day to lead at or above the action level. A full medical surveillance program is required for employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days in any consecutive 12 months, with exams under a licensed physician, at no cost to employees, at a reasonable time and place.
Key takeaways
- 1926.62(j)(1) is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart D).
- OSHA cited it 12 times in the last 3 years, in 12 inspections, with $3,535 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NY (3), IL (2), WI (2).
- Related part: 1926.62(j) Medical surveillance (15 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.62(j)(1) ("General") is one requirement inside 1926.62 Lead, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart D). 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
(1) General. 12 citations
(i) The employer shall make available initial medical surveillance to employees occupationally exposed on any day to lead at or above the action level. Initial medical surveillance consists of biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels. Open (j)(1)(i) 12 citations
(ii) The employer shall institute a medical surveillance program in accordance with paragraphs (j)(2) and (j)(3) of this section for all employees who are or may be exposed by the employer at or above the action level for more than 30 days in any consecutive 12 months;
(iii) The employer shall assure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician.
(iv) The employer shall make available 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 1926.62.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Top states: NY (3), IL (2), WI (2), MA (1), CT (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DIMITRI PAINTING CORP | CENTRAL ISLIP, NY | $2,000 |
| RUIZ & R LLC | WINCHESTER, VA | $1,535 |
| JD CORDAGE LLC | PLYMOUTH, MA | $0 |
| CORNERSTONE IMPROVEMENT, LLC | HARTFORD, CT | $0 |
| JEFF ABRAHAMSON | ENDICOTT, NY | $0 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.62(j)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.62(j)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1926.62(j) Medical surveillance 15 citations
- 1926.62(j)(1)(i) 12 citations
- 1926.62(j)(2) Biological monitoring 2 citations
- 1926.62(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
What is initial medical surveillance for lead?
Biological monitoring by blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels.
When is a full medical surveillance program required?
For employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days in any consecutive 12 months.
Who pays for lead medical surveillance?
The employer must make it available without cost to employees, at a reasonable time and place.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.62 (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 2026-10-19
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.