Lead Exposure

Lead is a particular concern in the construction industry because workers often deal with materials that contain lead, or build (or make repairs to) structures with lead-based materials. In some cases, these materials were banned by the United States for residential use but are still allowed for structures such as bridges because of the materials' resistance to rusting and corrosion.

Here are just a few of the many examples of lead in the construction industry:

• Lead-based roofs, cornices, tank linings, and electric conduits
• Soft solder (to solder tinplate and copper pipe joints in plumbing)
• Bridges, railways, ships, lighthouses, and other steel structures with lead-based paints

Some minor projects (for example, refinishing a door and stripping it of its paint) may result in shorter exposure to lead. However, workers tasked to larger projects, such as bridges, may find themselves exposed to lead day after day.

To learn more about Construction Lead Safety visit our Construction Lead Safety Online Training Certification web page.