What do employers have to do?

Assess the risk

Make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

Identify and implement control measures.

Record the significant findings of the risk assessment.

Introduce control measures, and carry out air monitoring if exposure is ‘significant’

Introduce control measures to ensure that the amount of lead in air in the breathing zone of any employee does not exceed the appropriate OEL. (Occupational Exposure Limit).

Carry out a regular programme of air monitoring if the assessment shows that the exposure to lead is liable to be significant.

Ensure high standards of personal hygiene

Provide suitable and sufficient washing facilities.

Provide clean areas for employees to eat and drink.

Place employees under medical surveillance if exposure is ‘significant’

Undertake regular biological monitoring of the level of lead in blood or urine to detect any absorption of lead.

If the action level is reached or exceeded an employer must:

• Carry out an urgent investigation to find out why.
• Review control measures.
• Take steps to reduce the employees blood-lead concentration below the action level, as far as is reasonably practicable.

If the concentrations of lead in blood or urine reach the suspension level employees should be taken off any work which exposes them to lead, to prevent the risk of lead poisoning.

Provide employees with information, instruction and training.

Employees should be provided with information, instruction and training including:

• The possible risks to health of exposure to lead.
• Details of the appropriate occupational exposure limit for lead and the action and suspension levels.
• The results of the risk assessment.
• The appropriate precautions and actions they should take to protect themselves and others from the effects of exposure to lead.
• The results of any personal air monitoring or biological monitoring that relate to them personally.