Figure 1. Water wash-down Figure 2. Exhaust for transfer point Figure 3. Keep floors clean Figure 4. Manual drossing

• When barrels are dumped, or spilled, leaded material may become airborne.
  
  
• Handling any leaded materials may contaminate clothing or result in airborne exposure.
  
  
• During transportation, materials may spill or come in contact with employees.
  
  
• Oxide spills may contaminate equipment and barrels.
  
  
• Lead pots may emit high levels of lead fume and operators may be exposed during dumping and drossing.
  
  
• The handling of material or dross may cause lead fume emissions and expose the operator.
  
  
• Pig pouring may increase exposure to the operator if the area in not ventilated.

• Use ventilated conveying systems, ventilated barrel dumper, or front end loader instead of loading the melting pot manually.
  
  
• Use automatic equipment for drossing.
  
  
• Use exhaust ventilation for the melting pots, drossing operations, and ingot casting operations.
  
  
• Isolate reclaim operations from other plant operations.
  
  
• Provide exhaust ventilated scrap barrels at workstations.
  Scrap Pot and Dross Hood
  
• Exhaust all transfer points (see Figure 2) and reclaim processes (that is, manual transfer to conveyor, storage hopper, and barrel dumper).

Possible Work Practice Controls

• Ensure that local exhaust ventilation is working properly.
  
  
• Cover all containers of scrap material being transported.
  Scrap Handling Barrel/Drum Exhaust Hood
  
  
• Ensure that all scrap is dry before dumping it into a melting pot.
  
  
• Vacuum all spills immediately using a central vacuum system or a HEPA vacuum.
  
  
• Keep the area clean.
  
  
• Use dust suppression techniques including keeping floors wet, using dust suppression compounds, or vacuuming.
  
  
• Clean all drums after dumping.
  
  
• Avoid splashing lead during pouring.
  
  
• If a torch is used in cleaning up splashed lead, use local exhaust ventilation to avoid breathing fumes.
  
  
• Keep water away from the melt pot to minimize the potential for an explosion caused by water being trapped under molten metal.
  
  
• Use long handled tools when possible.
  
  
• Provide adequate PPE, a change of clothes, and shower rooms (see OSHA Lead Requirements for PPE, Housekeeping, and Hygiene Facilities).

Figure 5. Exhaust melting pot

• Splashes of oxide on floors and equipment may dry and become airborne.
  
  
• Handling leaded material increases risk of exposure.
  
  
• During the transport of lead oxide material, lead particles may become airborne.
  
  
• Paste spills dry and may become airborne.
  
  
• Dumping dried lead oxide and dross causes lead pot emissions.
  
  
• Handling dross may increase the operator's exposure to lead fumes.
  
  
• Pig pouring may increase the operator's exposure to lead fume.

• Use ventilated conveying systems, ventilated barrel dumper, or front end loader instead of loading the melting pot manually (see Figure 5).
  
  
• Use automated equipment for drossing
  
  
• Exhaust ingot casting operations
  
  
• Exhaust all transfer points (see Figure 3) and reclaim processes such as manual transfer to conveyor, storage hopper, and barrel dumper
  
  
• Cover and exhaust all moving equipment that comes in contact with wet or dry paste
  
  
• Isolate the reclaim operations from other plant operations
  
  
• Provide screening or curtains to contain splatter
  
  
• Provide exhaust ventilated scrap barrels at workstations
  Scrap Pot and Dross Hood

• Work practice controls are the same as those in Dry Reclaim.
  
  
• Ensure that all scrap is dry before dumping into a melting pot
  
  
  • Dross formed from melting mixed alloys containing Ca, Al, As, and Sb may form hazardous gases such as arsine and stibine if the dross becomes wet.