Construction Lead Safety

Online Training Certification Course

29 CFR 1926.62

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Quick Overview

This online certification course is designed to highlight the regulatory requirements for working safely around lead in the construction industry. It can be used in the development of a lead awareness program, which employers are responsible for developing and implementing to protect workers from lead exposure. Course content includes applicable regulations, risks, and key safety practices.

Lead is found throughout the construction industry, from electrical fittings and conduits to lead-based paints, plumbing fixtures, and numerous metal alloys. While lead is valued for its durability, it is a toxic metal that causes serious health problems. According to the World Health Organization, "There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects."

While the use of lead has been banned or reduced in many applications, construction industry personnel are at risk of both short-term and long-term lead exposure. Because exposure results in severe and non-reversible health problems, workers in the construction industries are required by law to take construction lead awareness training.

Who This Course Is For

This course is for:
This lead hazard course is designed for all construction work in which an employee may be exposed to lead. This includes all work relating to construction, such as demolition or salvage of structures where lead might be present, removal of lead-containing materials, lead contamination from emergency cleanup, or installation of products containing lead.

OSHA lead training applies to both new construction and the repair, renovation, or replacement of existing work. This safety training may help prevent serious injury in the workplace and save lives.

Consequences For Not Training?

Case Study: It took until 1997 for the United States to conduct a comprehensive study of home lead contamination among construction workers. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, examined 31 children of lead-exposed workers, and compared the results of their lead testing with a control group of 19 children of unexposed workers from New Jersey, metro Philadelphia, and southeastern New York.

The study concluded that children of lead-exposed construction workers were "six times more likely to have blood lead levels over the recommended limit than children whose parents did not work in lead-related industries." The published results then reiterated some of the many effects of lead exposure, including behavioral disorders and brain damage. The risk to children is particularly high because they frequently put their hands in their mouth, thereby increasing their exposure, and because their bodily systems quickly absorb lead.

Of the workers surveyed, 50% reported changing out of work clothes prior to leaving work. In addition, 79% wore at least some street clothes at work, and nearly all (91%) washed these clothes at home. Only 18% reported always showering before leaving work.

"Parents wouldn't take their children to a dangerous workplace. It's equally important that they do not bring the hazards of the workplace home to their families," said NIOSH Director, Dr. Linda Rosenstock.

Key Takeaway: When workers inadvertently expose family members to lead, the results can be detrimental and sometimes irreversible. Follow your employer's guidelines for safe work practices and speak up if they are not enforced.

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