Lead in the Workplace

Preventing Work-related Lead Exposure

Highlights

  • Workers, employers, and family members can prevent or reduce lead exposure.
  • Cleaning up lead is hard and expensive, so take steps to keep it out of your home and car.
  • If you are worried about your lead exposure, have your blood lead level checked.
  • Employers must ensure lead exposure limits are not exceeded.

Workers

If you work with lead, there are ways you can reduce your exposure:

  • Read and follow your employer's lead control and management plan.
  • Maintain a clean workspace and follow good hygiene practices.
  • Use required personal protective equipment (PPE).

If you are worried about your lead exposure, have your blood lead level checked.

Keep yourself safe‎

Learn more about reducing and preventing lead exposure while at work.

Employers

  • Workplace exposure limits are meant to protect workers from hazardous exposures in the workplace. Employers must ensure exposure limits are not exceeded.
  • If lead is present, employers should follow the hierarchy of controls to figure out the most effective way(s) to control exposures.

Keep your employees safe‎

Learn about lead exposure limits and how to use the hierarchy of controls to protect your workers from lead.

Families

  • If your workplace contains lead, you may be bringing it home to your family without knowing.
  • It's easier to keep lead out of your home and car than to clean them. Cleaning up lead is hard and expensive.

Keep your family safe‎

Learn about take-home lead and how to protect those in your household.