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Occupational Health Branch

Occupational Health Watch: October 2019

Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: October 20-26

A pile of bullets and debris stands tall behind a row of hanging targets at an indoor shooting range. Lead Poisoning Prevention Week reminds us that lead poisoning on the job remains a widespread and serious health concern for thousands of workers in California.

Shooting ranges are one industry where workers continue to be at risk for lead poisoning. Recovering lead from bullet traps or cleaning the range can expose workers to high levels of lead. The CDPH Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OLPPP) has a new web page designed to help shooting range operators reduce lead exposure and contamination, and to help workers protect themselves.

The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has a new legislative deadline to update California's Lead Standards by September 30, 2020. The draft standards and public comment period are expected to be announced in the coming months. Email us at OLPPP@cdph.ca.gov to receive a notification.

OLPPP has updated our Health-Based Guidelines for Blood Lead Levels in Adults to be an easy-to-use reference for the care of adults and adolescents exposed to lead at work. If you are a health care provider and want more information on guidelines or CME courses, contact our public health physician at AdultLead@cdph.ca.gov.


Photo: Handling bullet debris can expose workers to harmful levels of lead.

Resources

Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Resources – OHB website

Preventing Lead Poisoning at Shooting Ranges – OHB website

Adult Blood Lead Guidelines – PDF fact sheet



Email Occupational Health Watch (OHW@cdph.ca.gov) with feedback or change of address.

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