SOURCE: MSHA | December 31, 2025
MSHA issued the alert to remind miners that work processes may “generate dangerous concentrations of lead, a metal that can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys and reproductive system if inhaled or ingested.”
The agency offers best practices for avoiding lead exposure. Among them:
- Change into clean work clothes and shoes before each workday.
- Wash your hands and face before eating or drinking.
- Eat or drink in areas free of lead dust and fumes.
- Ensure maximum respirator efficiency by keeping faces clean shaven.
- Get fit-tested for respirators.
- Launder clothes at work, whenever possible. Wash and dry clothes separately if they’re taken home.
- Use a HEPA vacuum and/or wet mopping to clean floors and surfaces. Don’t raise lead dust with dry sweeping or compressed air.
- Provide training on lead hazards and related miner protections.
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