Teamwork can improve the health of lead process workers.
A team working co-operatively to improve the health of lead workers has evolved over the last 10 years. We have monitored 704 employees for red cell lead (4800 samples) from a factory since 1974. In 1975, 32 employees, one-third of the workforce were suspended at a red cell lead level of greater than 10.7 mumol/l. Since 1980 no-one has been suspended at the current lower level of 7.7 mumol/l. By June 1984 the red cell lead mean for all process areas is less than 4.5 mumol/l (average 3.6 mumol/l). In 1984 the usual red cell lead range for local non-industrially exposed adult males is 1.23 SD 0.65 mumol/l. The value of cumulative reporting and contributory factors in reducing the blood levels are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
D007854:Lead