Lead: Protecting Workers from Exposure
Look around your neighbourhood and you will likely see a construction, demolition or renovation project underway. Professionals are working on some of these projects and the homeowners themselves are tackling others. When a wall is knocked down or an old door is sanded for painting, there is a chance for workers to be exposed to toxic lead. This exposure may also follow workers home, when they unintentionally bring it home on their clothes and expose their family.
Lead is a metal used in the manufacture of many consumer products. You can find it in some paints, as well as lead pipes and types of crystal. Before the 1980s, lead was added to paint. If a building has been renovated a number of times over the years, it could have a number of paint layers where lead may be found. Buildings built before the 1960s have a higher chance of containing lead paint.
A highly toxic material, lead has been linked to severe neurological disorders and cancer. Left alone, lead in paint doesn’t pose a threat, however when it is disturbed, lead particles can be inhaled and ingested which over time can severely damage the central and peripheral nervous systems, and cause other health problems. In addition, lead from pipes can leach into the water. Homes in older neighbourhoods may wish to test and/or replace the drinking water pipes both inside the home, as well as the line between the municipal system and the home.
Exposure
The most common ways that workers are exposed to lead are through inhalation and by accidental ingestion. Small airborne lead particles in the form of fumes, dusts, and mists can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Larger particles are trapped in the upper respiratory tract, cleared from the lungs, and subsequently swallowed. Ingestion can occur if the particles get into food or drinks, or if you eat or smoke without washing your hands first. Lead is not normally absorbed through the skin unless there is a break in the skin such as a cut or scrape.
Because lead is still present in many old homes, removing lead-based paint by sanding, scraping or demolishing painted items (e.g., walls, cabinets, or furniture) can cause lead dust to be released into the air. Other occupations and tasks with lead exposure risks include the manufacturing of ammunition, ceramics, electrical components, pottery and lead batteries, stained glass, paints, or activities such as mining, smelting, soldering and welding.
Health Risk
Lead is toxic to almost all of our organs. The body will naturally get rid of lead over time but repeated exposure to low doses of lead, or short-term exposure to high doses, causes health problems. These problems can range from stomach pain and irritability to neurological issues, kidney failure and, in pregnant women, pre-term birth, reduced birth weight and decreased mental ability in the infant.
Eliminating the source of lead exposure is the best way to reduce the risk of exposure. If that's not possible, there are other risk controls to use.
Elimination and Substitution
Employers should eliminate the source by substituting lead-containing paints, coatings and materials with lead-free products.
Engineering Controls
Ensure that dust is kept to a minimum and select methods and equipment for the removal or installation of lead-containing products that will reduce dust generation -- for example wetting down the dust before sweeping and shovelling. Local mechanical ventilation should be provided to remove contaminants at the source. For example, power tools that can generate lead-containing dust should be equipped with effective dust collection systems. Mechanical ventilation should be provided to remove contaminated air from the workplace, and filtered air should be provided to replace the exhausted air.
Work and Hygiene Practices
Lead-containing material can accumulate on hands, clothing and hair. From there it can be disturbed, released into the air, and then inhaled or ingested by the worker or by their families when brought home. Good personal hygiene helps prevent lead exposure. Workers should wash their hands before eating, drinking, and smoking, and be able to wash and shower at the end of each shift. Put on clean clothes before leaving the work site. For all work involving lead exposure, there should be no smoking, eating, drinking or chewing in contaminated areas. Food and beverages should be stored in an uncontaminated area.
Protective Clothing and Equipment
Wear appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment to prevent skin contamination such as coveralls or full-body work clothing, gloves, hats, footwear or disposable coverlets, and safety glasses, face shields or goggles.
Respirators can help prevent the inhalation of lead where engineering controls and work practices do not control the concentration of lead to below the occupational exposure limit.
In Canada, most provincial governments require employers to monitor workers’ exposure to lead in the workplace. If you have concerns, you should contact your employer’s safety professional, or the health and safety committee or representative.
Look around your neighbourhood and you will likely see a construction, demolition or renovation project underway. Professionals are working on some of these projects and the homeowners themselves are tackling others. When a wall is knocked down or an old door is sanded for painting, there is a chance for workers to be exposed to toxic lead. This exposure may also follow workers home, when they unintentionally bring it home on their clothes and expose their family.
Lead is a metal used in the manufacture of many consumer products. You can find it in some paints, as well as lead pipes and types of crystal. Before the 1980s, lead was added to paint. If a building has been renovated a number of times over the years, it could have a number of paint layers where lead may be found. Buildings built before the 1960s have a higher chance of containing lead paint.
A highly toxic material, lead has been linked to severe neurological disorders and cancer. Left alone, lead in paint doesn’t pose a threat, however when it is disturbed, lead particles can be inhaled and ingested which over time can severely damage the central and peripheral nervous systems, and cause other health problems. In addition, lead from pipes can leach into the water. Homes in older neighbourhoods may wish to test and/or replace the drinking water pipes both inside the home, as well as the line between the municipal system and the home.
Exposure
The most common ways that workers are exposed to lead are through inhalation and by accidental ingestion. Small airborne lead particles in the form of fumes, dusts, and mists can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Larger particles are trapped in the upper respiratory tract, cleared from the lungs, and subsequently swallowed. Ingestion can occur if the particles get into food or drinks, or if you eat or smoke without washing your hands first. Lead is not normally absorbed through the skin unless there is a break in the skin such as a cut or scrape.
Because lead is still present in many old homes, removing lead-based paint by sanding, scraping or demolishing painted items (e.g., walls, cabinets, or furniture) can cause lead dust to be released into the air. Other occupations and tasks with lead exposure risks include the manufacturing of ammunition, ceramics, electrical components, pottery and lead batteries, stained glass, paints, or activities such as mining, smelting, soldering and welding.
Health Risk
Lead is toxic to almost all of our organs. The body will naturally get rid of lead over time but repeated exposure to low doses of lead, or short-term exposure to high doses, causes health problems. These problems can range from stomach pain and irritability to neurological issues, kidney failure and, in pregnant women, pre-term birth, reduced birth weight and decreased mental ability in the infant.
Eliminating the source of lead exposure is the best way to reduce the risk of exposure. If that's not possible, there are other risk controls to use.
Elimination and Substitution
Employers should eliminate the source by substituting lead-containing paints, coatings and materials with lead-free products.
Engineering Controls
Ensure that dust is kept to a minimum and select methods and equipment for the removal or installation of lead-containing products that will reduce dust generation -- for example wetting down the dust before sweeping and shovelling. Local mechanical ventilation should be provided to remove contaminants at the source. For example, power tools that can generate lead-containing dust should be equipped with effective dust collection systems. Mechanical ventilation should be provided to remove contaminated air from the workplace, and filtered air should be provided to replace the exhausted air.
Work and Hygiene Practices
Lead-containing material can accumulate on hands, clothing and hair. From there it can be disturbed, released into the air, and then inhaled or ingested by the worker or by their families when brought home. Good personal hygiene helps prevent lead exposure. Workers should wash their hands before eating, drinking, and smoking, and be able to wash and shower at the end of each shift. Put on clean clothes before leaving the work site. For all work involving lead exposure, there should be no smoking, eating, drinking or chewing in contaminated areas. Food and beverages should be stored in an uncontaminated area.
Protective Clothing and Equipment
Wear appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment to prevent skin contamination such as coveralls or full-body work clothing, gloves, hats, footwear or disposable coverlets, and safety glasses, face shields or goggles.
Respirators can help prevent the inhalation of lead where engineering controls and work practices do not control the concentration of lead to below the occupational exposure limit.
In Canada, most provincial governments require employers to monitor workers’ exposure to lead in the workplace. If you have concerns, you should contact your employer’s safety professional, or the health and safety committee or representative.