Lead

Work which exposes people to lead or its compounds is covered by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002.

Risks may arise when:

• lead dust, fume or vapour is breathed in, eg as powder or dust
• lead is swallowed, eg if workers eat or drink without washing their hands
• compounds are taken in through the skin, in the form of lead alkyls (an additive to petrol)

Exposure can occur when employees work in industrial processes that create lead dust, fume or vapour, for example:

• blast removal, burning and stripping of old lead paint
• 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 and leaded glass including using pigments, colours and ceramic glazes
• working with metallic lead and alloys containing lead, for example soldering
• recycling of televisions or computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs)

What do I have to do?

• Assess the risk
• Introduce control measures, and carry out air monitoring if the risk assessment requires it
• Ensure high standards of personal hygiene are maintained
• If the risk assessment requires it, you may need to place employees under medical surveillance
• Provide employees with information, instruction and training

Find out more

HSE's working safely with lead website