The following is an abridgement of an article originally published on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website.

NIOSH has published a new resource to help employers and workers reduce hazards associated with lead pipe removal and replacement.

A new resource

The resource, called Workplace Solutions: Reducing Workers’ Lead Exposure during Water Service Line Removal and Replacement, discusses the potential for lead exposure when workers replace lead service lines (the pipes that carry water to homes and businesses) and provides recommendations to reduce lead exposure. The resource is based on a 2019 health hazard evaluation among city water department employees who were replacing water service lines.

Lead exposure risks

Many types of workers can be exposed to lead through various activities, such as working in excavated pits, cutting or handling lead pipes, or digging with heavy equipment or a shovel. Lead exposure can cause serious health problems, such as anaemia, kidney damage, and neurological effects. Workers can also carry lead home on their skin, clothes, or personal items, which can expose their family members to lead.

What NIOSH recommends

NIOSH recommends strategies to reduce workers’ exposure to lead based on the hierarchy of controls. The resource outlines NIOSH’s recommendations for employers and workers, such as:

• Developing a written lead monitoring and control program
• Monitoring airborne lead exposures
• Providing portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered vacuums to clean work vehicles
• Improving training, testing, and housekeeping
• Cleaning surfaces and avoiding bringing personal items into contaminated areas
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE)

You can access the resource on the NIOSH website and find more information about lead in the workplace here.

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Sources

NIOSH offers information to protect workers from lead exposure when replacing lead pipes by NIOSH, 3rd November, 2023.