2.3b Lead

Question 1

Employees should be told if their exposure to lead is ‘significant’ i.e.: 3

Answer 1

 Breathing zone: where any employee is or is liable to be exposed to a concentration of lead in the atmosphere exceeding half the occupational exposure limit for lead.

 Ingestion: where there is a substantial risk of any employee ingesting lead.

 Skin absorption: if there is a risk of an employee’s skin coming into contact with lead alkyls, or any other substance containing lead in a form which can also be absorbed through the skin.

Question 2

If exposure to lead significant, it will be necessary to: 3

Answer 2

 Provide protective clothing
 Measure the level of lead in the air, and tell employees the results. 
If exposure
to lead cannot be kept below the OEL, respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
must be issued.
 Arrange to measure the level of lead in the blood and tell employees the results.

Question 3

Action/Suspension levels for lead

Answer 3

Action Suspension

General employee
50 μg/100ml 60 μg/100ml

Young person under 18
40 μg/100ml 50 μg/100ml

Woman of child bearing age
25 μg/100ml 30 μg/100ml

Question 4

Information, instruction and training (Regulation 11)

Employees should be provided with information, instruction and training including: 5

Answer 4

 Details of the form of lead to which the employee is liable to be exposed

including:
- the risk which it presents to health
- any relevant occupational exposure limit, action level and suspension level
- access to any relevant safety data sheet
- other legislative provisions which concern the hazardous properties of that form of lead.

 The significant findings of the risk assessment.

 The appropriate precautions and actions to be taken by the employee in 
order to safeguard himself and other employees at the workplace.

 The results of any monitoring of exposure to lead.

 The collective results of any medical surveillance undertaken (without the results being identified as relating to a particular person).