What triggers medical removal under OSHA lead levels?

Medical removal under OSHA’s lead exposure standards is primarily determined by blood lead levels, specifically the threshold of 50 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL). When an employee's blood lead level meets or exceeds this threshold, they are at increased risk of adverse health effects, which triggers the requirement for medical removal from tasks that expose them to lead hazards.

This approach emphasizes the health and safety of workers by ensuring that those with potentially hazardous blood lead levels are not exposed further to lead while allowing for the necessary medical evaluation and potential treatment. OSHA has established specific criteria for monitoring and regulating blood lead levels to protect worker health, and the 50 μg/dL level is a key indicator for initiating medical intervention.

The other options relate to action levels and permissible exposure limits but do not specifically address the blood lead levels that necessitate medical removal. For example, the action level refers to airborne lead levels, while the 25 μg/dL measurement is a special threshold for certain vulnerable populations but does not trigger medical removal.