Control of Lead at Work (CLAW) Regulations: HSE Site Visit Requirements

Matt Higginson
5 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

As detailed by the Health and Safety Executive HSE) HSE - Lead - Health effects from exposure to lead) & Control of lead at work (Third edition) - Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 Approved Code of Practice and guidance

The Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) place a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.

The occupational exposure limit for lead in air set out in the Regulations is 0.15 mg/m3, and blood lead suspension levels for males and females are 60 and 30ug/dl, respectively. For young workers (under 18) the blood lead suspension limit is 50 μg/dl. However, there is growing scientific evidence that employees' health is at risk, even where exposure to lead is below the levels in CLAW, for example, above levels of 40ug/dl, the following health effects have been observed:

changes in the blood which might lead to anaemia
effects on the nervous system
effects on the kidney
altered functioning of the testicles which could lead to infertility

At exposures around 30ug/dl, elevated blood pressure in middle-aged males has been reported.

What Appointed Doctors Must Do

Appointed doctors are required under the United Kingdom (UK) CLAW legislation to report annually to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the blood lead levels of each employer’s workers, as well as the details of any workplace suspensions due to elevated blood lead levels. Appointed doctors must also ensure that the workplace is visited by a physician or suitably qualified individual to consider/review:

Number of employees and those exposed to lead within their role
On employment/pre-placement health questionnaires undertaken
Whether blood lead monitoring in place.

Current good practice in relation to:

Training, existing control measures, use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE), evidence of FaceFit testing, laundering of PPE (overalls), guidance on eating/drinking/smoking/vaping, personal decontamination and skin care as a minimum.

Further guidance on suitable workplace provisions can be found within both the CLAW regulations and within HSE literature.

Site Visit by Insight Workplace Health

A site visit will generate a report which will highlight good practice and identify issues which the employer will need to rectify immediately, urgently or as soon as practicable.

Insight Workplace Health (IWH) will undertake biological monitoring (taking blood samples) and processing these on behalf of employers both as the Appointed Doctor when directed to do so, however we are also able to assist in collecting blood samples on the behalf of your appointed doctor as required, the onus being upon the employer to ensure that where necessary assessment and physical examination of staff at risk of exposure to lead are assessed at least every 12 months.

All Appointed Doctor medicals MUST be undertaken face to face, we are unable to undertaken appointed doctor medicals for you or your staff without a site visit having taken place.

Please contact the office for costs and to arrange a site visit by one of our Occupational Health Physicians or to arrange a Discovery Audit, undertaken by one of our highly experienced clinicians What is a Discovery Audit?

*It is important to note that interpretation of the CLAW regulations is the responsibility of the employer.