17 Apr Lead Safety – Working Safely With Lead

Lead Safety – Working Safely With Lead

Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems when it enters the body. Construction workers may encounter lead when disturbing lead-containing paints, coatings, pipes, solder, or other materials during demolition, renovation, abrasive blasting, welding, cutting, grinding, and similar operations.

Lead can accumulate in the body over time and damage the nervous system, kidneys, blood-forming system, and reproductive system. Because workers may not immediately recognize the effects of exposure, lead hazards must be identified and controlled before work begins.

Guide for Discussion

How Lead Enters the Body

The primary routes of occupational lead exposure are:

• Inhalation: Breathing airborne lead dust, fumes, or other particles.
• Ingestion: Swallowing lead that has contaminated the hands, food, beverages, cigarettes, or other objects.

Lead dust can also settle on clothing, footwear, tools, vehicles, and work surfaces, creating additional exposure and the potential to carry contamination away from the workplace.

Recognize Work That May Create Lead Exposure

Lead exposure may occur during:

• Demolition or renovation of structures containing lead-based coatings.
• Sanding, scraping, grinding, or abrasive blasting painted surfaces.
• Welding, burning, or cutting lead-painted or lead-containing materials.
• Work on bridges, tanks, towers, structural steel, and similar painted structures.
• Handling or removing lead-containing materials.
• Cleanup of lead-contaminated work areas.

Never assume an older coating or material is lead-free unless it has been properly evaluated.

Understand Exposure Limits

For construction work, OSHA establishes an action level of 30 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (30 µg/m³), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

The permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Depending on the work being performed and exposure levels, requirements may include exposure assessment and air monitoring, engineering and work-practice controls, respiratory protection, protective clothing, hygiene facilities, training, and medical surveillance.

Control Lead Dust and Fumes

Prevent lead contamination from becoming airborne whenever possible.

• Use engineering and work-practice controls to minimize exposure.
• Use wet methods where appropriate to control dust.
• Use HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment for cleanup where required.
• Do not use compressed air to remove lead contamination unless appropriate controls prevent the dust from becoming airborne.
• Avoid dry sweeping lead-containing dust or debris.
• Keep lead-contaminated areas isolated from other work areas when necessary.
• Use respiratory protection when required by the company’s Lead Exposure Control and Respiratory Protection Programs.

Never knowingly disturb lead-containing materials without following the established lead-control procedures.

Practice Good Personal Hygiene

Good hygiene is essential because lead contamination on the hands, face, clothing, or personal belongings can be swallowed or carried away from the workplace.

• Never eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in lead-contaminated areas.
• Wash your hands and face thoroughly before eating, drinking, smoking, or leaving the work area.
• Use designated change and washing facilities when provided.
• Keep food and beverages away from lead-contaminated work areas.
• Do not take contaminated clothing or footwear home.
• Follow established procedures for removing and handling contaminated PPE and work clothing.

These precautions also help prevent take-home lead exposure to family members.

Protective Clothing and Respiratory Protection

When required by the exposure assessment or work being performed:

• Wear appropriate protective clothing and equipment.
• Inspect PPE before use.
• Remove contaminated clothing in designated areas.
• Store clean clothing separately from contaminated clothing.
• Use only required, properly selected respirators.
• Follow the company’s Respiratory Protection Program, including medical evaluation, fit testing, and training when respirator use is required.

Never rely on a respirator as a substitute for required engineering and work-practice controls.

Medical Surveillance and Training

Employees exposed to lead under conditions covered by OSHA requirements may be required to participate in biological monitoring and medical surveillance.

Employees performing lead-related work must receive required training so they understand:

• The health effects of lead.
• Operations that may create exposure.
• Applicable exposure limits.
• Required engineering and work-practice controls.
• PPE and respiratory protection requirements.
• Hygiene and housekeeping procedures.
• Medical surveillance requirements.
• Measures for preventing take-home contamination.

Remember

Lead exposure may occur without obvious warning, and repeated exposure can allow lead to accumulate in the body. Know whether lead is present before disturbing suspect materials, control dust and fumes, follow required hygiene practices, wear required PPE, and never take lead contamination home.