Lead Dust Exposure Control Plan

Purpose
Pakistan accumulators (pvt) limited have a duty to establish a program to minimize employee
exposure to concentrations of airborne and ground lead when working with lead contaminated
substances.
Scope
This ECP program will apply to all employees who may be exposed to pure lead or any lead
based articles.
Legal obligation
It is the legal duty of a concerned industry to take effective control measures in order to control
lead dust or fume.
According to PAKISTAN FACTORIES ACT, 1934 CHAPTER 4 Section 16 Any dust or fume
or other impurity of such a nature and to such an extent as is likely to be injurious or offensive to
the workers employed therein, effective measures shall be taken to prevent its accumulation in
any work-room and its inhalation by workers.
Introduction
Everyone absorbs some amount of lead through food or air they breathe but if somebody is
exposed to lead at work then there is a possibility to have higher levels of lead in the body which
can cause acute and chronic health problems.

Entrance of lead into body

Breathing in lead dust or fume.
Drinking or eating food contaminated with lead particles.
Putting objects contaminated with lead into mouth such as pen etc.
Smoking where there is lead dust or fume.
Effects of lead exposure on health
Lead interferes with many body processes and is poisonous to most organs and tissues,
including the bones, intestines, kidneys, nervous system, and reproductive organs.
Acute lead poisoning (high exposure over a short period of time) can cause fatigue,
anemia, and damage to the nervous system.
Chronic lead poisoning (exposure over a longer period of time) can cause fatigue, joint
pain, and weakness and kidney failure.
Lead exposure can impair fertility in workers.

Employer Responsibility:
Ensuring that the materials (for example, tools, equipment, personal protective equipment
[PPE], and other resources (for example, worker training) are available to fully
implement and maintain this exposure control program.
Ensuring that supervisors and workers are educated in the hazards of lead exposure, and
trained to work safely during the removal of lead-containing dust and waste.
Giving appropriate information, instruction, training and necessary supervision to the
employees.
Ensuring necessary guidance and professional advice is available to the workers by the
competent safety personnel.
Supervisor Responsibility:
Providing adequate instruction to workers on the hazards of lead exposure.
Selecting and implementing the appropriate control measures.
Immediately correcting unsafe acts and conditions.
Worker Responsibility:
Participating in all required health and safety education and training.
Using the assigned protective equipment in an effective and safe manner.
Following established work procedures as directed by the supervisor.
Reporting any unsafe conditions or acts to the supervisor.
Reporting to the employer any exposure incidents or any signs or symptoms of lead
illness.
Lead dust controls
The Regulation requires employers to select lead dust controls based on the following
hierarchy:
Engineering controls (for example, barriers, enclosure of work process, general
ventilation, local exhaust ventilation)
Administrative controls (for example, Safe system of work or safe working
procedures ,wash stations, separate eating and changing areas, and limiting the time
workers are exposed to lead)
Personal protective equipment (such as respirators )
Personal protective equipment and hygiene
Each worker should be provided with respirators if they are working in lead exposure
area.
When the worker notices a resistance to breathing, the respirator filters must be replaced.
Respirators will be used, cleaned, and stored properly.
Each worker should be provided with gloves.
Washing (and shower, if required) facilities should be provided.
Workers should remove contaminated clothing and thoroughly wash their hands and
faces before eating, drinking, or smoking.
No eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum should be allowed in the work area.
No food, gum, cigarettes, or other personal items should be stored in the work area.
Lunch breaks should be taken in a clean area separate from the work area.

 Workers should remove all work clothes and shoes at the end of the work day and leave
them at work.
Workers should wash (or shower) before leaving work to ensure that any potential
contamination is removed before they go home.
Housekeeping
Wet clean-up may also be used to remove dust.
Waste material will be placed in a dumpster, and will be removed at least weekly. The
location and method used to store waste will not allow lead-containing dust to re-enter
the workplace.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that work areas are free from dust at the end of
each shift.
Training
Training will be performed regularly by the employer or safety official and it should include
following topics
Health hazards of lead exposure
Engineering controls and safe work practices used to protect workers
Safe system of work plan
Housekeeping procedures
Proper use of respirators
Personal hygiene procedures to reduce exposures
Health surveillance
Health surveillance is required regularly scheduled basis when employees are exposed to a
lead contaminated atmosphere by approved physician.

Prepared for : Pakistan accumulators (pvt) limited

Prepared by : Shahzaib Hse

internee

Copying or reproduction of this document is not allowed without permission - Shahzaib