The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (the Regulations) contain provisions that protect workers by minimising exposure to lead. An accumulation of lead in the body can cause toxicity leading to a number of illnesses and death.
The Regulations have been amended to reduce the blood lead removal levels in line with the latest toxicological information and international best practice. The amendments are in line with a 2017 national agreement to:
- reduce mandated blood lead removal levels and related requirements to:
- a 20 μg/dl (target level) and 30 μg/dl (removal level) for females not of reproductive capacity and males, and
- a 10 μg/dl removal level for females of reproductive capacity.
- reduce the workplace exposure standard to 0.05 mg/m3;
- set a two year transition period for the amendments.
NT WorkSafe encourages the immediate adoption of the amendments before they become mandatory on 1 July 2021.
The following table provides a comparison of the current regulatory requirements to the requirements when the amendments become mandatory in July 2021.
| Regulation | Current requirements | Requirements from 1 July 2021 |
|---|
Regulation 394
Definition of lead risk work
| Lead risk work means 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: - for a female of reproductive capacity – 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L); or
- in any other case – 30 µg/dL (1.45 µmol/L).
| Lead risk work means 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: - for a female of reproductive capacity – 5 µg/dL (0.24 µmol/L); or
- in any other case – 20 µg/dL (0.97 µmol/L).
|
Regulation 407
Frequency of biological monitoring – females not of reproductive capacity and males
| - if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 30 µg/dL (1.45 µmol/L) – 6 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 30 µg/dL (1.45 µmol/L) or more but less than 40 µg/dL (1.93 µmol/L) – 3 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 40 µg/dL (1.93 µmol/L) or more – 6 weeks after the last biological monitoring.
| - if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) – 6 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) or more but less than 20 µg/dL (0.97 µmol/L) – 3 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 20 µg/dL (0.97 µmol/L) or more – 6 weeks after the last biological monitoring.
|
Regulation 407
Frequency of biological monitoring – females of reproductive capacity
| - if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) – 3 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) or more – 6 weeks after the last biological monitoring.
| - if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 5 µg/dL (0.24 µmol/L) – 3 months after the last biological monitoring; or
- if the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL (0.24 µmol/L) or more but less than 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) – 6 weeks after the last biological monitoring.
|
Regulation 415
Removal of worker from lead risk work
| A worker must immediately be removed from carrying out lead risk work if biological monitoring shows that the worker’s blood lead level is, or is more than, or is likely to reach: - for females not of reproductive capacity and males – 50 µg/dL (2.42 µmol/L); or
- for females of reproductive capacity – 20 µg/dL (0.97 µmol/L); or
- for females who are pregnant or breastfeeding – 15 µg/dL (0.72 µmol.L).
| A worker must immediately be removed from carrying out lead risk work if biological monitoring shows that the worker’s blood lead level is, or is more than, or is likely to reach: - for females not of reproductive capacity and males – 30 µg/dL (1.45 µmol/L); or
- for females of reproductive capacity – 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L).
|
Regulation 417
Return to lead risk work after removal
| A worker who has been removed from carrying out lead risk work must not be returned to carrying out lead risk work until their blood lead level is less than: - for females not of reproductive capacity and males – 40 µg/dL (1.93 µmol/L); or
- for females of reproductive capacity – 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L).
| A worker who has been removed from carrying out lead risk work must not be returned to carrying out lead risk work until their blood lead level is less than: - for females not of reproductive capacity and males – 20 µg/dL (0.97 µmol/L); or
- for females of reproductive capacity – 5 µg/dL (0.24 µmol/L).
|