Notes From the Field: Lead Exposures Among Employees at a Bullet Manufacturing Company — Missouri, 2017

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
• Personal Author:
  Jackson, David A. ; Burr, Gregory A. ; Braun, Carol R. ; de Perio, Marie A.
• Description:
  Lead is toxic to all human organ systems, resulting in adverse health effects that include impaired kidney function, elevated blood pressure, and neurologic health effects. Lead primarily enters the body through inhalation and ingestion, but direct absorption through the skin can occur. According to 2014 national lead surveillance data, >94% of the 3,616 U.S. adults with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) whose exposure source was known were exposed at work. Because of concerns about employees' occupational lead exposures, a Missouri bullet manufacturing company that melts lead ingots and casts them into bullets asked CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to conduct a health hazard evaluation. ... Almost all employees at this worksite had elevated BLLs. Although personal airborne lead exposures were below the OSHA permissible exposure limit, lack of a workplace lead control program likely resulted in employee lead exposures through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Education and training to improve work practices are needed to reduce employee lead exposures. Such improved work practices would include consistently wearing disposable nonlatex gloves in bullet production areas and handwashing with lead removal soap; using HEPA-filtered vacuums for surface cleaning; eliminating food and drink storage and consumption from bullet production areas; and wearing heat-resistant gloves, sleevelets, or both in the casting area to protect skin. The company was also advised to start a comprehensive lead program that incorporates elements of the OSHA lead standard, including training of workers and medical surveillance. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Lead Lead Poisoning Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Notes From The Field Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Staff Development Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  Lead; Lead absorption; Lead compounds; Lead dust; Lead production; Manufacturing; Industrial processes; Employee exposure; Toxic materials; Blood lead levels; Surveillance; Exposure assessment; Exposure levels; Exposure limits; Permissible limits; Work practices; Safety education; Training; Occupational exposure; Hand washing; Work environment; Environmental control; Environmental control equipment; Personal protection; Personal protective equipment; PPE; Medical monitoring; Health protection
• Source:
  MMWR 2018 Oct; 67(39):1103
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6739a7
• ISSN:
  0149-2195
• Pubmed ID:
  30286054
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6171891
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Missouri ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  39
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053052
• Contact Point Address:
  David A. Jackson, MD, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC
• Email:
  DJackson10@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:37647368d54d190903f6eff4022ca2dc1d14dc5bdce165280bd8bc21528798e9c02014b320ef3b4ed75a6be0f68127e64fc75198d4eac7efb5b63d0fbb31cc5e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/59985/cdc_59985_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 91.43 KB ]