Recognizing and Preventing Lead Exposure Risks in the Workplace

This year has been filled with media reports about lead poisoning hazards faced by the public. Stories have been broadcast about contaminated water in Michigan homes, drinking fountains being shut down in schools in the Northwest and East Coast, and most recently, over 1,000 residents of a housing complex in East Chicago being asked to relocate due to high levels of lead in the soil around their homes.
 
While there are many lead hazards that still exist in people’s homes and schools, some work environment can also expose workers to dangerous levels of lead. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can be combined with other metals to produce alloys. Lead and lead alloys are often used to make batteries, ammunition and other metal products. In the past, lead was also used regularly in fuel, paint, ceramics, caulk, pipes and solder among other things.
 
Although used less often, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that lead is still common in many industries, including construction, mining and manufacturing. In these and other industries, workers can be at risk of being exposed to lead by breathing it, ingesting it or coming in contact with it.
 
“Occupational exposure to potential lead hazards is still a significant concern for workers in so many industries,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark.  “At CSC, our industrial hygiene, environmental and building science professionals are experts in the rules and regulations of the lead industry.  Our staff can also provide exposure assessments and training to mitigate or eliminate exposure risks. These services protect workers, the public and are instrumental for keeping companies in regulatory compliance to avoid costly fines.”
 
CSC recently sponsored an educational video about lead exposure risks in the work environment that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/9Xcns9ZY_bo
 
To learn more about lead or other indoor air quality, environmental, occupational, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail