This eTool is designed to assist the
lead-acid battery
manufacturing industry in identifying potential engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee lead
exposure. It is the employer's responsibility to evaluate the sources of exposure and the controls
necessary for their particular operation in order to reduce employee lead exposure to the lowest feasible
level [1910.1025(e)(1)].
The sources of exposure can be identified through
task analysis sampling or through
video exposure monitoring.
The engineering and work practice controls listed in this eTool are intended as guides for design purposes
and apply to typical operations in battery manufacturing plants. Many of the controls have been shown to
reduce employee lead exposure and are provided to assist employers and employees in complying with the OSHA
Lead Standard. Not every control presented will be applicable to all battery manufacturing plants without modifications
because of special conditions such as work place constraints, cross-drafts, motion, differences in
temperature, differences in process operations
or use of other means of contaminant suppression. Additionally, other controls not presented in
this eTool may exist, which may be applicable to a particular plant.
It is the employer's responsibility to acquire industrial hygiene and ventilation expertise to evaluate
sources of employee exposure, and to design, install, operate and maintain exhaust ventilation systems
according to recognized industrial hygiene practices. These practices can be found in publications such as
the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists.
Respiratory protection and
medical surveillance are not addressed in this eTool, but are required for: compliance with the
Lead Standard, controlling lead exposure levels, and preventing lead-related disease. Please refer to the
following for more information:
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