Lead

Inorganic lead (lead) is used in Australian workplaces in a variety of products, including solders, batteries, radiation shielding and ammunition. It was used extensively in lead paints and lead fuels before these products were banned and may still be present in some workplaces.

Exposure to lead can cause adverse health effects. Evidence links lead exposure to:

  • cancer
  • cardiovascular disease
  • kidney damage
  • effects on the nervous system, including difficulty concentrating, hearing loss, loss of balance, tremors
  • behavioural changes like aggression, anxiety and depression
  • anaemia
  • reduced fertility, and
  • birth defects and developmental delays in children.

Lead can accumulate (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.

Managing risks associated with lead

If you are a PCBU, you have duties under the WHS Regulation 2011 to manage the risks to health and safety when using, handling, generating or storing lead at a workplace.

The Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace provides a four-step risk management approach to managing the risks of hazardous chemicals, including lead.

Lead processes and lead risk work

Due to the severity of health effects caused by exposure to lead, and that lead can still be found in workplaces and the environment, Part 7.2 of the WHS Regulation specifies that PCBUs are required to identify lead processes or lead risk work.

While extensively defined in Regulation 392 of the WHS Regulation, a lead process, in general, 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 abrasiveblasting or water jet treatment of surfaces coated in lead based paint.

As the PCBU, you must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that:

  • contamination by lead is confined to a lead process area at the workplace
  • these lead process areas are kept clean and steps are taken to prevent any persons from eating or drinking in the process area, and
  • an eating and drinking area is provided that is free from lead contamination.

Other important duties when lead is used or present at a workplace include:

  • providing and maintaining changing rooms, and washing, showering and toilet facilities to minimise lead contamination and exposure
  • providing information about the health risks and toxic effects associated with exposure to lead to workers before they start the lead process, and
  • taking steps to minimise workers’ exposure to lead when handling contaminated PPE and disposing of contaminated PPE is disposed appropriately.

PCBU’s have a duty to assess each lead process carried out and determine if it is lead risk work. Any worker carrying out lead risk work must be given information about the process before they start. They must also be provided information about health monitoring.

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