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Overview
Overexposure to lead is a
leading cause of workplace illness in the lead industry. Employees working in
secondary lead smelter plants are exposed to one of the highest lead exposure
levels among all lead-related industries.
Smelting is the process of reducing reclaimed lead compounds to elemental lead
Respiratory protection and medical
surveillance are not addressed in this eTool. However, they are essential for
controlling lead exposure levels and preventing lead-related disease when
engineering controls do not reduce airborne lead levels below the permissible
exposure limit. Please refer to
respiratory protection and
medical surveillance for more information.
The OSHA Lead Standard requires the employer to reduce employee exposure to the
lowest feasible level through the use of engineering and work practice controls
(1910.1025(e)(1). The engineering and work practice controls addressed in this
eTool have been shown to reduce employee exposure and are provided to assist
employers and employees in complying with the OSHA Lead Standard. It is the
employer's responsibility to evaluate the sources of exposure and the specific
controls for operations that are necessary to comply with the Lead Standard. |
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