Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 9 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
9 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Risk assessment 1
Assess and manage health risks from work involving lead
Unlimited fineYou must not let anyone work with lead unless you have carried out a proper risk assessment that looks at the lead hazards, how much and how long employees are exposed, and what control measures are needed. Those measures must be put in place, reviewed whenever something changes or monitoring shows a problem, and kept on record (if you have five or more staff). This means planning, implementing and constantly checking your lead‑related work to keep workers safe.
Management duties 6
Maintain, test and record lead control measures and equipment
Unlimited fineIf you use any equipment or protective gear to control lead exposure, you must keep it in good working order, have it inspected and tested at suitable intervals (e.g. local exhaust ventilation at least every 14 months), store and check PPE regularly, repair or replace defective items, clean or destroy contaminated gear, and keep records of all examinations, repairs and cleaning for at least five years.
Monitor lead in air and keep records
Unlimited fineIf your risk assessment shows that any of your employees could be significantly exposed to lead, you must measure the lead concentration in the workplace air. This monitoring must be done at least every three months (or up to every 12 months in limited circumstances), and you must keep the results and related records for at least five years, give employees access to their own data, provide records to the HSE on request, and notify the HSE immediately if you stop trading.
Prepare and maintain emergency procedures for lead incidents
Unlimited fineIf you use lead at work, you must have written emergency plans that cover accidents, incidents or emergencies involving lead. This includes first‑aid arrangements, regular safety drills, warning systems, and clear information for both your staff and any external emergency services. When something does happen you must act immediately, limit access to the affected area, and provide suitable protective equipment to the essential personnel.
Prevent eating, drinking and smoking in lead‑contaminated areas
Unlimited fineIf your business uses lead, you must make sure that staff never eat, drink or smoke in any area that is or could become contaminated with lead. You also need to provide safe drinking facilities that are kept free from lead where they are required for employee welfare.
Prevent or control employee exposure to lead
Unlimited fineIf your business uses lead or employees could come into contact with it, you must either stop using lead or put robust controls in place. This means looking for safer alternatives, designing safe work processes, providing ventilation, safe storage, hygiene facilities and suitable protective clothing or equipment, and making sure the legal exposure limit is never exceeded.
Provide medical surveillance for employees exposed to lead
Unlimited fineIf any of your staff work with or near lead at levels that could be significant, you must arrange regular health checks by a qualified doctor. This includes blood or urine testing, keeping detailed health records for 40 years, acting quickly if test results exceed set limits, and informing the HSE where required.
Other requirements 1
Do not use non‑leadless glazes or employ vulnerable workers in lead work
Unlimited fineIf you manufacture pottery you must only use lead‑free (leadless) or low‑solubility glazes – any other glaze is prohibited. You also must not hire young people or women of reproductive capacity for any activity listed in Schedule 1 (the lead‑related work specified in the Regulations).
Training 1
Provide lead safety information, training and clear container labeling
If any of your work could expose employees (or any other workers you use) to lead, you must give them appropriate information, instruction and training about the type of lead, health risks, legal exposure limits, safety data sheet, risk‑assessment findings, safe work practices, monitoring results and aggregated medical‑surveillance data. Keep this information up‑to‑date when work methods or exposure levels change, and make sure any lead containers or pipes that are not already labelled are clearly identified with their contents and hazards.
Penalties for non-compliance
8 penalties under this legislation. 8 carry an unlimited fine.
Assess and manage health risks from work involving lead
Unlimited fine
Maintain, test and record lead control measures and equipment
Unlimited fine
Monitor lead in air and keep records
Unlimited fine
Prepare and maintain emergency procedures for lead incidents
Unlimited fine
Prevent eating, drinking and smoking in lead‑contaminated areas
Unlimited fine
Prevent or control employee exposure to lead
Unlimited fine
Provide medical surveillance for employees exposed to lead
Unlimited fine
Do not use non‑leadless glazes or employ vulnerable workers in lead work
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
15 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 9
- s.4 Prohibitions employer
- s.5 Assessment of the risk to health created by work involving lead employees
- s.6 Prevention or control of exposure to lead employer
- s.7 Eating, drinking and smoking employer
- s.8 Maintenance, examination and testing of control measures
- s.9 Air monitoring the employer
- s.10 Medical surveillance employer
- s.11 Information, instruction and training Every employer
- s.12 Arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies the employer