Photo: Mine Safety and Health Administration
Arlington, VA — Miners exposed to lead dust or fumes at work need to be wearing an air-purifying respirator with high-efficiency filters, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says in a recent health alert.
MSHA issued the alert to remind miners that work processes may “generate dangerous concentrations of lead, a metal that can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys and reproductive system if inhaled or ingested.”
The agency offers best practices for avoiding lead exposure. Among them:
- Change into clean work clothes and shoes before each workday.
- Wash your hands and face before eating or drinking.
- Eat or drink in areas free of lead dust and fumes.
- Ensure maximum respirator efficiency by keeping faces clean shaven.
- Get fit-tested for respirators.
- Launder clothes at work, whenever possible. Wash and dry clothes separately if they’re taken home.
- Use a HEPA vacuum and/or wet mopping to clean floors and surfaces. Don’t raise lead dust with dry sweeping or compressed air.
- Provide training on lead hazards and related miner protections.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication