Can your health be risked by working in an environment where lead is be recycled?

Question

I have the opportunity for an admin job in a plant that recycles lead wire. I noticed "Poison" signs leading into the warehouse area, along with signs that say "No Drinking, Eating or Smoking In This Area". These were posted on the doors leading back to the warehouse. I would be working in the front offices, but there is only the door that separates the warehouse area from the offices. Can I get lead exposure from this, and should I turn down the job? Normally, I would just turn them down out right, but I really need the money. If it risks my health, I won't do it tho. Can anyone answer who knows about these things? THANKS!

Answer 1

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMm.........  Interesting question........

Lets start with the basics.  Lead (in wire form) is not a danger unless it is converted to dust or fumes.  You can't become poisoned by simpling touching the wires. You have to ingest it or swallow it so its dust or fumes that are the danger. I am trying to picture how they do this recycling. And is dust being generated.  If its being melted I would guess fumes are being generated unless the vats are sealed and the fumes scrubbed.

How ever they recycle the material, I am sure air testing has been preformed.  The plant must comply with the OSHA "Lead In Gerenal Industry" regulation.  My questions to the manegment would be.

1) How often is air sampling preformed?

2) Is it ever done in the office?

3) What where the results? (more on that later)

4) Has dust / whipe sampling ever been done in the office or lunch room area?

5) What were the results?

Air Testing:  The OSHA "Permissable Exposure Limit" (PEL) for workers is 50 micrograms per cubic meter (50 ug/m3) of air.

If the plant excedes this number then all the workers would be wareing 1/2 face negitive pressure resperators with purple (HEPA) filters.

Dust Testing: There is no OSHA settled dust number for industry.  However, the HUD / EPA number for homes is 40 micrograms per square foot (40 ug/ft2) on floors.

If the answer to questions 3 and 5 above excede the numbers I just gave you I would be a little concerned. In any case I would be sure to wash my hands before eating, smoking etc. I would never go into the warehouse if the workers are wareing resperators.  (They wouln't let you anyhow).

(I see Iam about to run out of room here.  I will try and email you the rest of this answer.  If you have your Yahoo email hidden please contact me at [e-mail] and I can finish it