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Health Dangers from Lead On the Job



Details

  • Corporate Authors:
    New York State Department of Health
  • Description:
    Lead may hurt you even if you don't feel sick. Levels of lead once thought harmless are now shown to be toxic. Even low levels of lead can cause health damage - Studies in recent years have shown it can: Decrease brain function; Decrease kidney function; Increase blood pressure and increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke; Harm the development of your baby before its born; Increase chances of having a miscarriage. Once lead gets in the body, it stays there! How Can You Reduce Your Exposure to Lead? Change into work clothes and shoes before beginning work each day. Consider at minimum changing your shoes. Wash your hands and face before you eat, drink or smoke. Shower at the end of the day, before you go home. Wear a clean, properly fitted air purifying respirator equipped with P100 filters (purple) as a minimum level of protection, in all work areas that have lead dust or fumes. Shave to get the required fit. Eat, drink or smoke and store food, drink, cigarettes or cosmetics in areas away from lead dust and fumes. Launder your clothes at work if possible. If you must take clothes home, wash and dry them separately from other family members' clothes. What is "Take Home" Lead? Lead dust can be brought into your home on work clothes and equipment. This is called "take home" lead and it can harm anyone who comes in contact with it. If young children live in your home and you work with lead, launder your work clothes separately. Young children are more susceptible to the toxic effects of lead. Even very small amounts can cause learning problems and serious illness. Lead dust can get in your car, on furniture, floors and carpets. Your child can swallow this lead dust and be poisoned. A child with lead poisoning usually does not look or feel sick. A blood test is the only way to know how much lead is in the body. Who Can Help? Your Employer or Union - Follow your employer's recommendations for safe cleaning, personal protective equipment and ventilation systems. Your Doctor or other Medical Health Care Provider - It is important for your doctor to know about your possible lead exposure even if you do not have symptoms. He or she will determine if lead testing is necessary. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) www.health.ny.gov: NYSDOH's Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention can provide guidance, information and technical assistance to you on many occupational health issues. Industrial hygiene services are provided free of charge and can include: consultation by phone or on-site visit; technical assistance in controlling workplace hazards; worker protection and hazard communication programs; guidance on personal and respiratory protective equipment. Inquiries can be made to: (518) 402-7900. [Description provided by NIOSH]
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Publisher:
    New York State Department of Health
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Funding:
    Cooperative Agreement
  • Genre:
    Guidance
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    1-2
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20058749
  • Citation:
    Albany, NY: New York State Department of Health, 2015 Apr; :1-2
  • CAS Registry Number:
    Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    2015
  • Performing Organization:
    New York State Department of Health/Health Research Incorporated
  • Peer Reviewed:
    False
  • Start Date:
    20050701
  • Source Full Name:
    Health dangers from lead on the job
  • End Date:
    20260630
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:c20ccbb41516fe773560d2e820d9e8c803b9a645b0e928e8e67a3c48e8fa400e7c0574f6b2bcab5f89112b21b6670e49db0900505730e6d4805c5de8b03e1b01
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 357.16 KB ]
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