Labor and Industries is at the end of their new Lead (Pb) Rulemaking that incorporates all businesses under this rule. WA Retail Association has been participating in this significant rule change and giving input to L&I through attending input sessions.
The current draft still needs additional clarifications to help our members comply. We strongly encourage retailers to review the rule draft and other various documents below. Please express your concerns or questions to Rick Means, WR Safety Specialist, by September 11th to prepare for the rule draft review meetings on September 13 and 20.
To summarize, this is how the rule will affect you:
- Employers that work with any of the following materials may potentially be covered by the scope of the rule:
- Lead containing coatings (paint, lacquer, varnish, and so forth)
- Suspect coatings
- Facility/structure constructed prior to 1978
- Corrosion protection coatings
- Structural metal
- Maritime
- Lead containing products
- Lead shot or ingots
- Ammunition (including in powder actuated tool)
- Fishing sinkers
- Solder
- Mortar
- Lead containing alloys
- Lead grout
- Smelting and casting
- Slag
- Precious metals
- Wallpaper
- Other materials that may contain lead
- Contaminated soils
- Older pesticides and pesticide residue
- When a retailer determines that their work environment and materials in use are covered by the new rule, retail employers who follow the Safe Harbor Provision (under WAC 296-857-50010 on p.37 of the draft) will be considered in compliance with the rule for tasks covered.
- Exposure will trigger Action Rules per this chart below provided by L&I
Additional documents:
- Key Changes (4pgs);
- WAC rules with a brief description (6pgs);
- Full Draft (66pgs);
- Chart showing which rule relates to each area of the pictorial map
- DOSH Lead Rule Proposal Chart
L&I wants to complete this phase soon and move to the final rulemaking phase. Please feel free to contact Safety Specialist Rick Means at 360-200-6454 or [email protected].
