Health Effects of Lead Exposure
Personal hygiene is an important element of any program for protecting workers from exposure to lead dust. OSHA requires employers to provide adequate washing facilities at the worksite so that workers can remove lead particles that accumulate on the skin and hair. Showers should also be available.
- Washing: All workers exposed to lead should wash their hands and faces before eating, drinking, or smoking.
- Tobacco: Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc.) and food items should not be permitted in the work area. Contaminated work clothes should be removed before eating.
- Personal Clothing: Workers should change into work clothes at the worksite. Work clothes include disposable or washable coveralls. Street clothes should be stored separately from work clothes in a clean area provided by the employer. Separate lockers or storage facilities should be provided so that clean clothing is not contaminated by work clothing and shoes. Workers should change back into their street clothes after washing or showering and before leaving the worksite to prevent the accumulation of lead dust in the workers' cars and homes and thereby protect family members from exposure to lead. Read OSHA's Quick Card on personal clothing best practices.
- Protective clothing: Employers should arrange for the laundering of protective clothing; or, if disposable protective clothing is used, the employer should maintain an adequate supply at the worksite and arrange for its safe disposal according to applicable Federal and State regulations.
- Vehicles: Trucks, cars and other vehicles should be parked where they will not be contaminated with lead.
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8-5. When working around lead dust what should an employee do before leaving work?
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