If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 for severe symptoms such as seizures, confusion, fainting or trouble breathing.
- 2Ask a clinician about being checked for lead, and tell them exactly what kind of work you do.
- 3Report the possible exposure to your supervisor in writing and keep a copy.
- 4Write down the tasks involved: sanding or scraping old paint, demolition, torch cutting, battery work, soldering, firing ranges, metal casting or recycling.
- 5Note what protection you had: respirators, ventilation, washing stations, separate work clothes.
- 6To reduce take-home dust, change out of work clothes and shoes before getting in your car or going home if you can, and wash them separately.
- 7Do not eat, drink or smoke in the work area, and wash your hands and face before breaks.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Lead exposure is common in renovation of older buildings, bridge and steel work, battery manufacturing, foundries and some recycling work. Unlike a cut, it may not hurt at all. Your report can explain the tasks you do, how long you have done them and any test results you already have. Symptoms people sometimes describe include tiredness, headaches, stomach pain, irritability and trouble concentrating, but these can have many causes. Testing is how exposure is usually measured.
Exposure claims often depend on documentation. Ask your employer whether the workplace has done air monitoring or medical testing of workers, and whether you can have copies of your own results. If the employer has done blood testing of workers, ask how often and who sees the results.
Deadlines to report and file vary by state. For gradual exposures, a state may look at when you learned about the problem or its connection to work. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency soon. If you worked several lead jobs, list them with approximate seasons.
Keep every test result with the date, your report, and a list of job sites and tasks. If family members are being tested because of take-home dust, keep those records separately. Keep notes about any family testing separate from your own claim records.
Getting medical care
A licensed clinician can decide whether testing and follow-up are appropriate and what the results mean. Occupational medicine clinicians often see lead exposure, and your primary care clinician can help too. Bring a list of your tasks and job sites, and any earlier test results. If you are pregnant or planning to be, tell your clinician, since that may affect the advice you are given.
Tell the clinician the exposure is work-related. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, and some workplaces have a testing program, so ask your employer or the adjuster. If you are referred for follow-up testing or a specialist, ask how approvals work.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-related prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is often available.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your test results are elevated and the claim is denied or questioned.
- You are moved, cut back or let go after raising concerns about lead.
- Protective equipment or washing facilities were not provided and you were told to keep working.
- You worked on a site controlled by a general contractor or property owner, which may raise third-party questions.
- Your family may have been exposed through dust you carried home.
- You have ongoing health effects and cannot return to the same work.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your clinician's plan for follow-up testing. Lead levels and their effects are tracked over time, so keep each result. Lead levels can take time to come down after exposure stops. Patience and regular testing are part of the process.
Your clinician may recommend that you stay away from lead work for a while. Ask for that in writing and share it with your employer. Ask whether other tasks are available while you recover. Some employers move workers with elevated levels to tasks without lead exposure for a period. Ask how that works and whether your pay is affected.
Before you return, ask what has changed: ventilation, protective gear, washing stations or work methods. Write down the answers. Keep washing up and changing clothes before going home, even after you return.
Questions to ask
- Has the workplace done air monitoring for lead, and can I see results?
- Is there a medical testing program for workers here?
- Can I get copies of my own test results?
- Doctor, how often should I be retested?
- Should my family be checked because of dust I bring home?
- How are work-related prescriptions handled, and can they be delivered?
- Attorney, how does my state handle exposure claims that build up over time?
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I think I had lead exposure at work?
Ask a clinician about testing and tell them about your job. Report the exposure to your employer in writing. Change clothes before going home to cut down on take-home dust.
Can lead exposure at work be covered by workers' comp?
It may be, depending on your state and the evidence. Occupational illnesses from exposures on the job are often part of workers' comp. Report it and ask your state's agency.
Can I have lead poisoning without symptoms?
It is possible to have elevated lead without obvious symptoms. That is one reason testing matters for people in lead jobs. A clinician can explain your results.
Can I bring lead home to my family?
Yes, lead dust can travel on clothes, shoes, tools and in vehicles. Changing and washing before going home may help. Ask a clinician whether family members should be checked.
What jobs have lead exposure?
Common examples include renovation of older buildings, demolition, steel and bridge work, battery work, foundries and firing ranges. There are others. Ask your employer what hazards your job involves.
Can I be moved off lead work because of high results?
Some employers move workers to other tasks after elevated results, depending on the rules that apply. Ask your employer how it handles this. Get any changes in writing.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).