When are you most at risk?

Work processes

When you work in industrial processes which create lead dust, fume or vapour. These include:

blast removal and burning of old lead paint;
stripping of old lead paint from doors, windows etc;
hot cutting in demolition and dismantling operations
recovering lead from scrap and waste.
lead smelting, refining, alloying and casting;
lead-acid battery manufacture and breaking and recycling;
manufacturing lead compounds;
manufacturing leaded-glass;
manufacturing and using pigments, colours and ceramic glazes;
working with metallic lead and alloys containing lead, for example soldering;
some painting of buildings
some spraying of vehicles
Recycling of televisions or computer monitors which contain Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT’s)

Your body absorbs lead when you:

Breathe in lead dust fume or vapour
Swallow any lead for example if you eat, drink, smoke or bite you nails without washing your hands and face.

Make sure you have all of the information and training you need to work safely with lead
Use all of the equipment provided by your employer and follow the instructions for use
Make sure all protective equipment fits correctly and is in good condition
Keep your immediate work area clean and tidy
Clear up and get rid of any lead waste at the end of the day
Do not take home any protective clothing or footwear for washing or cleaning
Wear any necessary protective equipment or clothing and return it to the proper place provided by your employer
Report any damaged or defective equipment to your employer
Only eat and drink in designated areas that are free from lead contamination
Keep any medical appointments with the doctor where you work
Practice a high standard of personal hygiene:
- Wash your hands and face and scrub your nails before eating
- Wash and/or shower before you go home