Lead processes and lead risk work

WorkSafe ACT has received reports of lead paint removal that is considered lead risk work without the relevant health monitoring.

Removing lead paint and or dust in education and childcare settings creates risk to the health of workers and others at the workplace.

Exposure to lead has the potential to cause adverse health effects to exposed workers. It can cause adverse health effects including cancer, kidney damage, anaemia, and reduced fertility etc.

Lead can build up in the body over time, stored in the bones and teeth. This ‘body burden’ can become a health risk later in life as the body ages and bones demineralise, releasing stored lead into the blood stream.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act), a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) at a workplace is required to ensure the health and safety of workers. Part 7.2 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation) sets out specific requirements for PCBUs to protect the health and safety of people at workplaces where a lead process is carried out, including notifying WorkSafe ACT and providing health monitoring to workers if the process includes lead risk work.

Lead hazard

What is a lead process?

A lead process has been defined in Regulation 392 of the WHS Regulation.

As per the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 Regulation 393, the Regulator decided Lead removal work within an education or childcare setting to be a lead process.  

In general, it is any work that exposes a worker to:

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

Managing the risks

A PCBU must assess the risk of lead exposure when conducting business or undertakings involving lead paint and dust. Testing of paint by a lead specialist will assist in determining the risk of exposure and what safety controls to implement.

A PCBU must give workers information about the risks and health effects when working with lead. A PCBU must:

  • Ensure all the lead work is restricted to the lead process area.
  • Keep the area clean and make sure the cleaning method does not spread the lead to other areas or create risks to the health of other workers.
  • Ensure no-one drinks, eats, smokes or chews gum in the area. A separate dining area, wash basins, shower and toilet facilities should be made available away from the lead work area.
  • Make sure those doing lead work wash their hands, face and exposed skin thoroughly when leaving the lead process area for breaks, meals or at the end of the shift.
  • Launder and decontaminate the contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) from lead process area before re-using.

Health monitoring

A PCBU must consider the blood lead levels of workers and airborne levels of lead when conducting removal of lead paint or dust.

Health monitoring can be used to identify whether existing control measures are working effectively or whether more effective control measures should be implemented.

A PCBU must provide health monitoring to workers undertaking lead risk work before the worker first starts the work and one month after.

Health monitoring must be carried out by or under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner with experience in health monitoring. It must include:

  • demographic, medical and occupational history
  • physical examination, and
  • biological monitoring.

The Health Monitoring for Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals – Guide for persons conducting a business or undertaking provides further information on health monitoring, and guidance on meeting your requirements as a PCBU.

Notifying WorkSafe ACT

If a PCBU determines that removing lead paint or dust is lead risk work:

A PCBU must use the appropriate form to notify WorkSafe ACT within 7 days of making the determination that the work to be done is lead risk work. A notification is also required within 7 days if the PCBU is unsure if the work is lead risk work.

You can use the Notification of lead risk work form to Notify WorkSafe ACT.

You can contact us by email, phone or by mail, visit our contact us page for more details.

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