Overview

Businesses conducting lead risk work must notify SafeWork SA of the activities within seven days of the work commencing or when the work is determined to be lead risk work.

Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 define lead risk work as work carried out in a lead process that is likely to cause the blood lead level of a worker carrying out the work to exceed the stipulated levels.

SafeWork SA received 122 lead risk work notifications in 2024.

Any worker with a raised blood lead level above the prescribed limited needs to be removed from that work until their blood lead level reduces to an acceptable level.

Businesses that remove a worker from carrying out lead risk work as a result of health monitoring, must notify SafeWork SA if the worker's blood lead level exceeds stipulated limits or the medical practitioner supervising the health monitoring directs the worker be removed.

The removal levels reduced as of 1 July 2021. The levels are now:

  • 30µg/dL for females not of reproductive capacity and males; and
  • 10µg/dL for females of reproductive capacity

During the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2024, the manufacturing industry notified SafeWork SA of the removal of 158 workers from lead risk work.

The health effects of exposure to lead are well documented and can include abdominal pain, constipation, irritability, memory loss, nausea, weakness, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage/disease, brain damage, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infertility.

Entrance routes into the body from lead exposure can result from ingestion, absorption and inhalation of lead contaminated dust.

Workers exposed to lead and lead containing products may also place their families at risk of lead exposure if wearing contaminated clothing home from work.

Industry sectors that conduct lead risk work include:

  • Manufacturing industry
  • Battery manufacturing and recycling
  • Construction and Demolition industry
  • Lead smelters / foundries
  • Utilities industry.

Compliance campaign

From 1 January 2025, SafeWork SA inspectors will conduct work site visits and audits when lead risk notifications are received to ensure businesses are complying with their legislative obligations.

Compliance action will be taken against businesses where identified.

The SafeWork SA compliance campaign will continue until July 2026.

Further links: