Employers have a legal obligation to provide health surveillance have regular exposure to lead (even if control measures are in place), as lead can be absorbed either when breathing or swallowing.
This is know as CLAW medical – (Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002), and protects against serious health problems developing such as anaemia, kidney disease and cancers.
Lead can be found in construction workplaces. It is commonly used as a specialist material (eg roof flashings) and present in older buildings (eg in paint or pipework).
Lead can cause serious health problems such as anaemia or kidney disease and published research has linked exposure to a small number of occupational cancers. This page tells you how to control these risks and why.
