WorkSafe Tasmania

WorkSafe Tasmania

Safe and well every day

Lead work

Work involving lead

Inorganic lead is a soft, metallic, blue-grey heavy metal.

Lead and lead compounds are in solders, metal alloys, bronzes, construction material and older types of paints.

Health risks of lead

You can inhale lead through dust, fumes or mist. You can also swallow it; for example, if your hands come into contact with lead and then you eat, drink or smoke.

Lead exposure can have serious health effects, especially if inhaled or ingested. It can also build-up in the body from repeated exposure. It causes health conditions such as:

  • cancer
  • anaemia
  • kidney damage
  • reduced fertility
  • nerve damage
  • cardiovascular disease
  • birth defects and developmental delays in children
  • behavioural changes like aggression, anxiety and depression.

Lead processes and lead risk work

Many types of work involve some exposure to lead. For example:

  • repairing or breaking up batteries containing lead
  • foundry work
  • restoring old buildings with lead paint and leadlighted windows, or lead sash weights
  • repairing radiators
  • using high pressure water jets on lead paintwork
  • firing weapons at an indoor firing range.

These and others are known as a lead process. A lead process is any work that exposes workers to:

  • lead particulates, dust or fumes: for example, grinding, sanding or welding
  • molten alloys containing lead
  • lead batteries or parts of batteries
  • lead-based spray paint, including any abrasive blasting or water-jet treatment of surfaces coated in lead-based paint.

Lead risk work means work carried out in a lead process that is likely to cause the blood lead level of a worker carrying out the work to exceed:

  • for a female of reproductive capacity: 5μg/dL (0.24μmol/L), or
  • in any other case: 20μg/dL (0.97μmol/L).

PCBUs must assess each lead process at work and determine if it is lead risk work.

Legal responsibilities

If you’re a Person Conduction a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), you must manage the health and environmental hazards associated with exposure to lead in workplaces. You must manage lead risk work and:

  • manage the risks with using, handling, generating and storing lead at their workplace
  • identify lead processes or ‘lead risk work’
  • provide information on the health risks to their workers
  • notify the workers of the need for health monitoring
  • provide health monitoring to workers if they are exposed to lead through ‘lead risk work’
  • monitor the air in the workplace and ensure they don’t expose workers above the workplace exposure standards for lead
  • ensure any contamination is contained to the lead process area, and this area is safely kept as clean as is reasonably practicable
  • prohibit eating, drinking or smoking in the lead process area
  • provide and maintain washing and changing facilities for workers
  • provide a system to manage contaminated clothing and protective equipment that does not further spread contamination
  • notify the Regulator (WorkSafe Tasmania’s General Manager).

Control measures for lead work

PCBUs must confine lead processes to one area as much as possible and:

  • keep the lead process area clean
  • stop people eating or drinking in the process area
  • make sure eating and drinking areas don’t get contaminated.

PCBUs must also minimise lead exposure when handling contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE). PCBUs must train their workers and supervise them to make sure they use PPE appropriately, including removing and disposing of contaminated PPE appropriately.

What is health monitoring

Health monitoring helps identify whether:

  • control measures are working effectively, or
  • more or different control measures are needed.

Health monitoring is carried out or supervised by a doctor with experience in health monitoring. PCBUs must provide the doctor with certain information.

PCBUs must not use health monitoring as an alternative to using effective control measures that protect workers from lead exposure.

Conducting health monitoring

PCBUs must provide health monitoring for all workers involved in lead risk work:

  • before the worker first starts the lead risk work, and
  • one month after starting the work.

If PCBUs identify that the work is lead risk work after the worker starts the work, they must provide the health monitoring as soon as possible after the work is identified as lead risk work, and again one month after that.

The frequency of further health tests then depends on the results of these initial tests.

PCBUs must:

  • get the health monitoring report and provide a copy to the worker as soon as practicable
  • keep a confidential record of the worker’s health monitoring reports for at least 30 years.

PCBUs must provide a copy of the health monitoring report to the WHS regulator in their jurisdiction, as soon as practicable, where there are adverse findings; that is:

  • test results showing that the worker has reached or exceeded the relevant blood lead level for that person
  • results that show that the worker may have contracted a disease, injury or illness as a result of carrying out the work
  • any recommendation that you take remedial measures to protect the worker

The permanent or temporary removal of the worker from that type of work may be required, and their health closely monitored.

What to do if you think you may have lead dust in your workplace

If workers think there may be lead dust in the workplace, it is crucial to take immediate action to protect yourself and others from potential health hazards.

Guidance for PCBUs

  • Isolate the area: Cordon off the affected area to prevent people from entering. Use signs or barriers to clearly indicate that the area is off-limits until the issue is resolved.
  • Contact a professional: Hire a qualified environmental or industrial hygiene professional to assess the extent of lead contamination and develop a plan for clean-up. They will have the expertise and equipment to handle lead safely.
  • Implement proper cleaning procedures: If cleaning is required, use proper methods to reduce the risk of lead exposure. Wet cleaning methods are often recommended to prevent the dust from becoming airborne. Your hygiene professional will be able to help you with this.
  • Follow safety guidelines: Adhere to safety guidelines and regulations related to lead exposure. These may include those provided by work health and safety authorities agencies or environmental protection agencies.
  • Provide medical surveillance: If there is a risk of lead exposure, ensure workers undergo medical surveillance to monitor their health (see information above). Regular blood lead level testing may be necessary.
  • Review and update safety protocols: Work with workplace safety experts to review and update safety protocols to prevent future occurrences of lead dust exposure. This may include changes to work processes, equipment, or training programs.
  • Train your workers: Provide education and training to workers on the risks associated with lead exposure, proper handling procedures, and the importance of reporting any potential hazards.

Information for workers

  • Do not disturb the dust: Avoid any activities that could disperse the lead dust further or increase the risk of inhalation, such as sweeping or vacuuming.
  • Report it to management: Immediately notify your supervisor, manager or whoever is in charge of workplace safety about the lead dust, so they can take appropriate action.
  • Wear protective equipment: If it is safe to do so, put on personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, a mask, and protective clothing before attempting to clean or address the lead dust.

Lead in house paint

Paint containing lead was used in many Australian homes before 1970, but those built more recently may also present a risk to your health. It can be found on interior and exterior walls and features, and on fences and railings.

Exposure to lead is a health hazard, and not just in a workplace. Even small amounts of dust or chips of paint containing lead, generated during minor home repairs, can be a health risk. It may be covered by more-recently applied paint, and becomes an health and safety risk when the paint deteriorates and becomes flaky, powdery or peeling; or during paint removal.

Anyone painting a house or doing maintenance that could disturb paint containing lead should avoid exposing themselves and their families, neighbours and pets to its hazards.

Resources

Inorganic lead: Safe Work Australia

Lead alert: The six step guide to painting your home guidance: Department of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Last updated: 30 January 2024
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