Number of British lead workers under medical surveillance falls

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March 28th, 2014

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Figures highlighted by the Health and Safety Executive show a reduction in the number of British people under medical surveillance for work with lead since 2002.

According to the medical surveillance data, women only account for a small proportion of the total under surveillance. Workers under the age of 18 also remains low.

A snapshot of key statistics, include:

Numbers under medical surveillance dropped by 47% from 7949 in 2011/12 to 4240 in 2012/13
Lead battery manufacturing persists as the sector with the highest number of males under surveillance
Substantial reductions in the number of males under surveillance in an array of sectors including the smelting, refining, alloying and casting industries
Three males had blood-lead levels of 60µg/100ml or above in 2012/13. This contrasts with 142 males in 2002/03
There was a large increase in the number of females in the potteries, glazes and transfers sector – a contrast with previous years which had low numbers under surveillance
Four females had blood-lead levels of 30µg/100ml or above in 2012/13. This compares with 18 females in 2002/03
There were eight suspensions, including four males and four females, as a result of excess blood-lead levels in workers under surveillance in 2012/13

Total number of British lead workers under medical surveillance since 2002/03:

Number of British lead workers under medical surveillance falls

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