Assessment of the risk to health created by work involving leadI15

1

An employer shall not carry out work which is liable to expose any employees to lead unless he has–

a

made a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk created by that work to the health of those employees and of the steps that need to be taken to meet the requirements of these Regulations; and

b

implemented the steps referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

2

The risk assessment shall include consideration of–

a

the hazardous properties of the lead;

b

information on health effects provided by the supplier, including information contained in any relevant safety data sheet;

c

the level, type and duration of exposure;

d

the circumstances of the work, including the amount of lead involved;

e

activities, such as maintenance, where there is the potential for a high level of exposure;

f

any relevant occupational exposure limit, action level and suspension level;

g

the effect of preventive and control measures which have been or will be taken in accordance with regulation 6;

h

the results of relevant medical surveillance;

i

the results of monitoring of exposure in accordance with regulation 9;

j

in circumstances where the work will involve exposure to lead and another substance hazardous to health, the risk presented by exposure to those substances in combination;

k

whether the exposure of any employee to lead is liable to be significant; and

l

such additional information as the employer may need in order to complete the risk assessment.

3

The risk assessment shall be reviewed regularly and forthwith if–

a

there is reason to suspect that the risk assessment is no longer valid;

b

there has been a significant change in the work to which the risk assessment relates;

c

the results of any monitoring carried out in accordance with regulation 9 show it to be necessary; or

d

the blood-lead concentration of any employee under medical surveillance in accordance with regulation 10 equals or exceeds the action level,

and where, as a result of the review, changes to the risk assessment are required, those changes shall be made.

4

Where the employer employs five or more employees, he shall record–

a

the significant findings of the risk assessment as soon as is practicable after the risk assessment is made; and

b

the steps which he has taken to meet the requirements of regulation 6.