Monitor Work-Related Health Issues with Our Statutory Lead Medical Surveillance Programme
Legislation: The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW)
The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) place a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.
Regulation 10 Medical surveillance stated that: "Every employer shall ensure that each of his employees who is or is liable to be exposed to lead is under suitable medical surveillance by a relevant doctor where the exposure of the employee to lead is, or is liable to be, significant…a relevant doctor certifies that the employee should be under such medical surveillance."
Relevant doctor is a doctor who is appointed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) or other regulations depending on the type of the medical surveillance carried out.
Occupational Blood Lead medical surveillance
Exposure to lead can result in a range of serious medical problems, which is why the law requires employers to do medical health surveillance for their workers who are exposed to lead.
What is Lead & how can it affect my health?
Lead is a heavy, soft, silvery-gray metal. It is used in the production of storage batteries, ammunition, cable covering, pigments, glass, ceramic glazes, casting metals, and solders.
Lead can enter the body by inhalation and ingestion. Once lead enters the body, it is absorbed by the blood and carried to all organs of the body.
- Exposure to Lead can cause upset stomach, poor appetite, weakness and fatigue, headache, irritability, and muscle and joint pain.
- If exposure to lead continues, the amount stored in the body will increase, which then can cause Lead poisoning.
- Symptoms include metallic taste, poor appetite, weight loss,colic, nausea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. Even though you may not be aware of any symptoms of disease, this stored lead can be slowly causing irreversible damage.
When should I have Lead medical?
As per Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002: “Medical surveillance required shall -
... be commenced before an employee for the first time commences work giving
rise to exposure to lead and in any event within 14 working days of such
commencement; and subsequently be conducted at intervals of not more than 12
months or such shorter intervals as the relevant doctor may require.”
IOMed can help employers, workers, and others prevent work-related lead poisoning by:
- Help employers carrying out Lead medical surveillance to track employees' blood levels to find out who is exposed to lead
- Identify lead-poisoned workers and help them get proper medical care
- Help workers avoid carrying lead home on their clothes and poisoning their families
- Assist employers to improve their lead safety practices
What is included in the medical?
The general principles of good occupational health practice apply to the medical examination of Lead workers.All employees that are expose to Lead must undergo a medical evaluation by appointed doctor that should include:
- Complete work and medical history
- Thorough physical examination, including examination of the central nervous system
- Blood Lead test, ZPP, Hemoglobin
- Any other tests determined necessary by the examining physician