Lead Awareness Training: How to Work Safely Around Lead

Lead is a soft, heavy metal. It was used for many years in paint, pipes, solder, batteries and other products, and it is still used in some industries today. Lead is toxic: it can harm the brain and nerves, kidneys, blood and reproductive system.

The danger at work usually comes from lead dust and fumes. When you sand, scrape, cut, grind, blast or heat something that contains lead, tiny particles get into the air and settle on surfaces, tools, clothes and skin. They are easy to breathe in or swallow, and you often cannot see them.

Lead also builds up in the body over time. Small exposures day after day can add up to serious harm, even if you never feel sick on any single day.

Lead is still found in many older buildings and in some industrial work. Common tasks that can expose workers include:

• Renovating or demolishing older buildings
• Stripping, sanding or scraping old paint
• Cutting, welding or torching painted steel, such as on bridges and older structures
• Handling or recycling lead-acid batteries
• Some auto body, plumbing, radiator and industrial maintenance work
• Working with lead products such as lead sheet, solder or ammunition

Jobs that often involve lead work include:

Lead enters the body in two main ways:

Health effects can include tiredness, headaches, stomach pain, irritability and memory problems. Over time, lead can damage the nerves, kidneys and blood, raise blood pressure, and affect fertility. Lead is especially harmful to unborn babies and young children. If you are worried about your exposure, talk to a doctor.

Each province sets occupational exposure limits for lead: the maximum amount allowed in the air workers breathe over a work shift. Under provincial OHS regulations, employers whose workers may be exposed to lead generally must:

• Identify lead hazards and assess worker exposure
• Have a plan to control exposure, often called an exposure control plan
• Provide the right equipment, washing facilities and PPE
• Train workers on the hazards and the safe work procedures

Workers must follow the procedures, use the controls and PPE provided, and report problems. Some employers also offer medical checks, such as blood lead testing, for workers with regular exposure. The exact rules and limits differ from province to province, so check with your employer and your provincial OHS regulator.

The best way to protect workers is to stop lead dust and fumes from forming or spreading in the first place. Common controls include:

• Safer methods: choose ways of working that create less dust, such as chemical strippers instead of dry sanding or torching.
• Wet methods: mist surfaces to keep dust down. Never dry sweep.
• HEPA vacuums: clean up dust with a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter, not a regular shop vac or compressed air.
• Ventilation: use local exhaust and containment to capture dust and fumes at the source.
• Respirators: wear the right respirator for the task. Tight-fitting respirators must be fit tested.

Containment matters too. Set up plastic sheeting and barriers to keep dust inside the work area, post signs, and keep people who are not part of the job out. Cover or remove furniture and materials that could collect dust. At the end of the shift, clean the area with HEPA vacuums and wet wiping, and bag the waste as your employer’s procedures require. Respirators and PPE work best as the last layer, after these other controls are in place.

Good hygiene stops lead from getting into your mouth and from going home with you:

• Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in the work area.
• Wash your hands and face before you eat, drink or smoke, and before you leave work.
• Wear work clothes and boots that stay at work, or use disposable coveralls.
• Change out of work clothes before you go home, and never shake out dusty clothing.
• Store street clothes away from work clothes, and keep lunch and drinks in a clean area.

Does lead awareness training expire? There is no single national expiry date. It depends on your province and employer, and many employers ask for a refresher every 1 to 3 years.

The Gama Lead Awareness course has five modules: an introduction to lead and where it is found, health effects of lead, regulations and exposure limits, controlling exposure and safe work, and safe work, hygiene and cleanup.

This is awareness training. It does not replace your employer’s exposure control plan, site-specific training, or an in-person respirator fit test.

1. Enrol in the online Lead Awareness course and start right away on your phone, tablet or computer.
2. Learn at your own pace. The course takes about 2 hours, and your progress saves automatically.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better. Retakes are unlimited and free.
4. Download your certificate right away. A physical wallet card is mailed to you free.

The course is recognized by employers across Canada and available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more. Training a team? Volume pricing starts at 2 seats, with an admin dashboard. Questions? Call 1-866-661-9803 or email info@gamasafety.ca.