WorkSafe Victoria has published a new guidance on working with the poisonous metal lead, to coincide with updated lead exposure standards and monitoring requirements which came into effect today (5 June).
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe Victoria, Julie Nielsen said the new guidance, Lead – A guidebook for workplaces, replaced the former code of practice.
“Exposure to lead in the workplace is a serious health and safety risk that can cause a range of illnesses including cancer, kidney damage, nerve and brain damage, paralysis, reduced fertility, and birth defects in children,” Ms Nielsen said.
“The industry has had time to prepare for these changes,” she said, “So there will be no excuse for employers who are caught ignoring their legal duties and putting their workers at risk of lead poisoning.”
Ms Nielsen said workplaces that used lead processes needed to review their procedures and practices to ensure they were complying with the amended regulations.
“The guidance provides definitions and examples of lead processes and lead-risk work; has information on legal duties for both employers and employees regarding risk and control measures; and outlines obligations in relation to health monitoring of workers.”
“It also includes tables to help employers monitor the blood lead levels of workers who undertake lead-risk work,” she said.
The 21-page Lead Guidebook can be accessed at this PS News link.
