Blood Lead Program
Achieving Safer Workplaces with ILA’s Blood Lead Reduction Program
Reducing Lead Exposure in the Workplace
The importance of minimising lead exposures in the workplace is recognised by all ILA member companies. Regular measurement of the amount lead in an employee’s blood is one of the tools available to assess whether exposure control measures are effective in preventing occupational ill-heath.
Since 2013 it has been a condition of ILA membership that companies enrol in the Associations voluntary blood lead reduction program and agree to continuous improvement in the management of employee lead exposures. In addition, member companies must strive to achieve blood lead levels in employees that are as low as reasonably practicable respecting the application of the hierarchy controls.
Companies undertake annual reporting of employees blood lead measurements to the ILA to allow the production of a benchmarking report to facilitate a comparison of performance with peers and to track performance towards a voluntary sectoral target. Regular lead exposure management workshops are arranged that include presentations by technical experts and peer to peer learning opportunities.
Current Voluntary Target
Over the last decade , the industry has regularly set lower blood lead level goals to spur a reduction in worker blood lead levels and drive continuous improvement in company performance. Today, the program’s goal is to have all workers maintain their blood lead levels at or below 20 µg / dL by 2025.
Tangible Results
At the end of 2023 nearly 15000 employees were enrolled in the blood lead reduction program from companies operating in Europe, North America and Asia. Less than 10% of employees exceeded the voluntary target compared to approximately 30% in 2013 and the average blood lead measurement is now approximately 11.5 µg / dL.
“Maintaining a healthy work environment and continuous improvement in the management of employees lead exposure are priorities for our member companies. The impressive results delivered by our voluntary blood lead reduction program is testament to this”