Health Hazard Evaluation Program: Exposure to Lead During Bullet Recycling: HHE Report No. 2023-0030-3407

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beaucham, Catherine C. ; Somerville, Nicholas
• Description:
  Management of a lead bullet recycling company requested a health hazard evaluation to evaluate lead exposure among employees processing lead-containing bullets. We visited the facility on two occasions and completed the following activities: observed work processes, practices, and conditions; measured employees' lead exposure in air and throughout the facility; collected wipe samples for lead on surfaces outside of the warehouse; interviewed employees to learn about work history, health and safety concerns, PPE use, training, and possible work-related health effects; and reviewed documents and employee BLL data. We found that most employees were overexposed to lead in air. Surface sampling showed lead was being tracked outside of production areas. Lead was also found inside employees' respirator facepieces. Employee blood lead levels were elevated. Historical records of employee blood lead levels suggest that medical removal from work or to job duties with lower exposure has been the predominant intervention in successfully reducing employee blood lead levels thus far, further indicating a need for improved controls. Recommendations included (1) improving local exhaust ventilation over the melting pots/furnaces to better enclose the melting process, (2) reducing employees' exposure to lead through improved medical surveillance, cleaning, training, and work practices, and (3) reducing exposure to molten lead splashes by installing an automatic strainer. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Lead Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Materials Recovery Facilities BLLs Blood Lead Levels Dermal Exposure Dermal Exposures Lead Dust Occupational Exposure Personal Protective Equipment PPE Region 2
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE202300303407
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study ; Case Report
• Place as Subject:
  New Jersey ; New York City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  46 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070296
• Citation:
  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 2023-0030-3407, 2024 Nov; :1-46
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  562920 - Materials Recovery Facilities - (NAICS)
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cdc480731f4cedca3b0f81b691d0b3fe3d834d756662003db159d1d466424fc8629c4ce923f122660b8ed6e177a1ffd57b83efcafef389cfceabc5e51c7983b9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/182923/cdc_182923_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.07 MB ]