Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 38
Lead in Blood
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently launched an informal consultation
regarding proposals to lower the action and suspension blood lead levels as laid out in the
Control of Lead at Work regulations (CLAW 2002). While still under consultation, these
proposals could mark a significant change in the way lead exposure is managed and monitored
in the workplace.
Lead Welding
At temperatures above 500°C, lead begins to fume and risk
of inhalation could increse substantially. In most on-site
building applications lead welding is carried out only for
short periods and in open-air conditions.
However, if welding lead-containing materials in close
proximity (Figure 1) this could still result in exposure to a
high concentration of lead fume before it has a chance to
disperse. This therefore could be assessed as “Significant”
risk of exposure.
Furthermore, within a workshop area lead-in-air
measurements should be taken and monitored to assess
exposure, as air movement will be more restricted and
exposure times longer.
Lead-in-Air standard measurements is a time-weighted
average. Refer to the Approved Code of Practice.
Control Measures
The employer and employee must ensure, as far as it is
reasonably practical that all measures are taken to restrict
and control exposure and that respiratory equipment,
proctective clothing, etc are:
Figure 1
• Properly used and maintained in an efficient state
• Are in an efficient working order and
• Provided in adequate supply (particularly on
remote sites)
Legislation
The Control of Lead at Work (CLAW) regulations sets
out the permissible levels of Lead in Blood. The current
permissible levels as at the time of publication are:
• Blood Lead Concentrations
• Women of reproductive capacity 30µg/dL
(action level 25µg/dL)
• Young persons 50µg/dL (action level 40µg/dL)
• Any other employee 60µg/dL (action level 50µg/dL)
In order to meet these limits “action levels” (as shown above)
have been built into the legislation whereby employers are
required to take appropriate action and measures in order
to reduce the exposure. Copies of the regulations Control
of Lead at Work: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance
(COP2 (Third Edition L132) can be obtained from HSE
books, T: 0870 600 5522 or at www.tso.co.uk.
Figure 2
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important sector of our culture.
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