Preventing Occupational Lead Exposure
Safety Measures to Take
Although the dangers of lead are known,
lead is the fifth highest used metal in the world. In
2006, there was about 3,470,000 tons of lead
produced in the world. Approximately 77 million
pounds of lead is used annually by 45 companies
in New Jersey. The continued high use of lead in
society is dangerous for all those exposed to it.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), one of the leading cases
of work-related illness is overexposure to lead. In
fact, 95% of all adult lead poisoning is from
occupational exposure. Most occupational lead
exposure is by oral ingestion while eating,
drinking , or smoking at work.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set standards for
companies to maintain for the safety of their employees. Companies associated with lead
exposure must comply with the “permissible exposure limit (PEL) of fifty micrograms of
lead per cubic meter of air (50 μg/m3), averaged over an 8-hour work-day.” There are
ways to ensure that the air quality meets the PEL, but also there are ways to get the air
back below the PEL.
Air Monitoring should be used frequently in any building that has lead being used
or produced. The air should be check to make sure it is not exceeding the PEL. If the PEL
is exceeded, companies are required to inform all workers who work in the area of the air
condition. There is not a set standard on how often companies should test the air, but if
there is a change in processing or production the company needs to monitor to ensure
that the change has not affected the air quality.
equipment and exhaust ventilation. Exhaust ventilation can be very effective when trying
to lower the exposure to below the PEL.
Personal Hygiene Practice requires that employees
exposed to lead above the PEL are provided changing rooms,
showers, and lunchrooms with filtered air. Although this is only
required for those exceeding the PEL, this should be used as a
precaution for all that are exposed to lead. Employees should always
shower before returning home and never bring work clothes home to
protect their family from incidental exposure. Lunch time can be the
time when the lead is most likely to enter the body. There are
companies that require their employees to shower before lunch and
eat in a separate building to ensure that the employees are not
ingesting lead while they eat.
indicate the areas where lead is being used.
OSHA only requires for signs to be posted outside
those places where the PEL is exceeded, but
there is no harm in posting where any amount of
lead is use.
America
33%
Africa
2%
Oceania
4%
Asia
33%
Europe
28%
Those occupations that have high risk of lead poisoning are: producing or
smelting lead, melting and casting brass, copper, or lead, demolishing old structures,
stripping or sanding old paint, welding, manufacturing batteries, repairing radiators,
using indoor firing ranges, and mixing ceramic glazes. Some of these occupations have
a higher risk than others, but all workers and employers need to take precautions.
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health there are more
than 3 million workers in the United States with potential lead exposure.
Engineering Controls include material substitution, modification in the process or
Warning Signs should also be used to
The Military’s War
Against Lead
Exposure
Lead Production Today
Are Companies Doing
Their Job?
In a study conducted by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior
Services, the protective measures by New Jersey companies to ensure safety for its
workers when around lead were surveyed. The survey was sent to 104 companies in
which 44 responded. The table below shows how well these companies provided
ways to protect their employees.
In 2000, a study was done on the Special Operations Force soldiers’ blood lead
level. The soldiers had airborne lead exposure 20 to 38 times the PEL. The average
blood lead level was 13.9 μg/dL. It was determined that the soldiers were being
contaminated at the outdoor firing range which had exposures above the PEL. It was
difficult for the researchers to do extensive test on the soldiers because of the frequent
deployment and the necessity of realistic training.
It turned out that not only the outdoor
range exceeded the PEL, but also the indoor
range. It was estimated the average time spent
at the firing range by a soldier was 24 to 40
hours. These firing ranges experience
thousands of rounds of ammunition being fired
every day. The two indoor firing ranges had
airborne lead levels of 980 to 1,900 μg/m3 and
60 to 220 μg/m3.
Lead surveillance and respiratory programs were implemented for all soldiers
that spent at least 30 day per year at the firing ranges. The contaminated sand was
replaced at the outdoor ranges, time limits were instilled, hygiene was improved to
minimize the lead dust, mandatory uniform washing was employed and new exhaust
ventilation systems were put into the indoor ranges.
From 2000 and 2005, 255 soldiers had their blood tested frequently to assess
the how changes in the firing ranges and health protection programs assisted in the
lowering of the blood lead level. The graph below shows the average blood lead level
of the 255 soldiers tested between 2000 and 2005.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for
workers exposed to lead exceeding the PEL, but should be always
be used. Examples of PPE are coveralls, gloves, shoes coverlets,
face shields, vented goggles and respirators. There is a listed of 7
types of respirators that are to the standards of OSHA for
employers to select from.
Medical Surveillance is also a required action on those who work in places where
the PEL is exceeded. The medical surveillance is to be cost free for the employee and
supervised by a physician. It is a two part surveillance: periodic biological monitoring and
medical examinations. Biological monitoring is to be done at least every 6 months. The
medical examinations are usually only done after the initial exam if the employee’s blood
level has exceeded 40 μg/100g.
Training employees on correct use of lead can also
prevent unnecessary lead exposure. Training programs
inform employees of specific hazards in their work
environment, protective measures that can be taken, the
dangers of lead, and also the companies responsibility for
their safety. In a study, it was found that “properly designed
and marketed lead-safe training courses can have a positive
impact on knowledge levels, attitudes and behavioral
intentions of workers.”
These surveys indicate that companies are complying with OSHA’s requirements and
suggestions. These protective measures are only required when the lead level
exceeds the PEL, a possible explanation for some of the NO proportions.
Although YES proportions are the majority, there is still work that can be done by
companies whose employees are exposed to lead. Many of these measures are
optional unless the PEL is exceeded. It would be great achievement if all companies
with lead exposure offered these protective measures. Unfortunately, these measures
can be very expensive for a company especially if it is a small radiator repair store.
For these smaller companies, housekeeping can be best protective measure. The wet
wipe, soap/water cleaning solution would keep the lead level down in the building.
No matter what size company, every company that has its employees exposed
to lead needs to provide some sort of lead protective measure. The consequences of
lead overexposure are very severe and any measure can help keep people from being
contaminated.
Housekeeping is used to keep the level of lead dust down around
work spaces. There are many was to do clean up. Vacuuming is the
preferred method by OSHA. In a case study at a glass manufacturing
company, different cleaning methods were used to clean to see which
method was best for lowering the lead levels. The table shows the studies
findings. The percentages show how much of the lead was
removed from the
area. It is interesting
to note the dry
sweeping and the hiefficiency vacuum
actually produced
more lead dust as
seen by the negative
percentage.
The United States Defense Department has taken measures to ensure that
soldiers are protected with the 2004 Lead Biomonitoring Policy. This policy
categorizes soldiers with any lead exposure into three level. Each level has different
ways in treating the soldier so that he or she may return to duty.
The military will need to keep studying the blood lead levels of its soldiers until
lead is removed from bullets. The presence of lead amongst soldiers can be very
detrimental to their reaction times. For these elite men they are paid for their quick
reaction time. It is the job of the soldiers to maintain their reaction time, but it is also
the military’s job to ensure a safe environment for these men to perfect their timing.
Resources
Blando, James, Daniel Lefkowitz, David Valiante, Barbara Gerwel, and Eddy Bresnitz. "Survey of Current Lead Use, Handling, Hygiene, and Contaminant
Controls Among New Jersey Industries." Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene 4 (2007): 539-46.
Buzzetti, Alan, Frank Greene, and Dottie Needham. "Impact of a Lead-Safe Training Program on Workers Conducting Renovation, Painting, and
Maintenance Activities." Public Health Reports 120 (2005): 25-30.
Mancuso, James, John McCoy, Bruce Pelka, Patrice Kahn, and Joel Gaydos. "The Challenge of Controlling Lead and Silica Exposures from Firing Ranges
in a Special Operations Force." Military Medicin 173 (2008): 182-86.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 4 Dec. 2008. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 7 Dec. 2008
<http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/>.
Occupational Safety and Health Standards: Toxic and Hazardous Substances: Employee standard summary.
<http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10032.>
Cassidy Kist
Science and Society
Lead and Humanity
Professor Alanah Fitch
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Staudinger, Kevin C., and Victor S. Roth. "Occupational Lead Poisoning." American Family Physician 57 (1998).
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"Wiping Out Lead at Work." Environmental Health Perspectives 111 (2003): 1-1.