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Exposure to Lead During Residential Water Line Replacement Activities
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2021/01/01
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Source: Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2019-0192-3377, 2021 Jan; :1-32
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Description:The Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program received a request from the employer of a city water department concerning lead exposure among crews replacing lead water lines servicing residential homes. This occurred after two employees received blood tests indicating elevated lead levels. In response to these findings, the employer implemented some measures to minimize lead exposures among employees and submitted an HHE request. In response to this request, we conducted confidential medical interviews; collected personal air samples for lead; conducted colorimetric wipe sampling for lead on the hands of employees; collected wipe samples inside the surfaces of work gloves, work trucks, and areas at the main pump station; and determined whether lead particulate was expelled from the old lead pipe during a removal process. All air samples were below the occupational exposure limit for lead; however, we found lead on various surfaces and on the hands of some employees. Specific job titles such as crew leader and maintenance worker appear to have a higher potential for exposure via all routes than other job titles. We detected lead on the hands of employees who handled the lead pipe during removal activities, and lead on the inside of some work gloves after the job was completed. The task of using compressed air to blow a string through the lead piping produced a large amount of lead aerosol being ejected from the pipe. We observed incorrect respirator usage and some cases where nitrile gloves were not worn underneath work gloves when handling lead pipe. The company had a written lead monitoring and control program, a hazard communication program, and a job-hazard analysis for tasks associated with lead line replacement. While the employer had implemented multiple measures to minimize lead exposures to employees, there appears to be opportunities for potential lead exposure among employees during residential water line replacement activities. We recommended improving (1) lead surveillance, training, and work practices; (2) personal protective equipment use and training; (3) procedures for employees to keep their hands clean and free of lead during different tasks; and (4) cleaning procedures to reduce lead exposure.
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Pages in Document:32 pdf pages
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Contributor:Booher, Donald E.;Ehlers, Josie;Hamilton, Cheryl;Moore, Kevin;Watts, Shawna;
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NIOSHTIC Number:20061967
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NTIS Accession Number:PB2022-100393
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Citation:NIOSH [2021]. Exposure to lead during residential water line replacement activities. By Methner;MM, de Perio MA. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for;Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2019-0192-3377,;
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Federal Fiscal Year:2021
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Peer Reviewed:False
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Resource Number:HHE-2019-0192-3377
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