Lead
We have four sites where lead is mined or processed, and where potential lead exposure is an important health concern. These sites are all within the Xstrata Zinc business and are:
- McArthur River Mine and Mount Isa Mines in Australia
- Brunswick mine and smelter in Canada
- Northfleet lead refinery in the UK
Our acceptable blood lead limits are set below international occupational health guidelines. Tracking statistics show that both average blood lead levels and the number of individual workers with excessive blood lead levels are improving. Very few of our female employees work in areas where they may be exposed to lead.
Occupational hygiene programmes
We have developed occupational hygiene programmes to minimise the exposure of employees and contractors to lead. These include:
- training individuals on how to minimise their own exposure
- comprehensive biological and workplace monitoring
- relocating any employees and contractors with excessive blood lead levels until they return to acceptable levels
Lead management review process
When a worker is relocated, we follow the lead management review process. We investigate whether factors such as personal hygiene, respirator fit, work performed or potential external sources of lead may have contributed to the high lead blood reading and determine actions taken to reduce further exposure. These reviews continue following each of the next three scheduled blood tests.
Cadmium
Xstrata Zinc is also standardising its cadmium programme. Like lead, cadmium is a potential risk and uncontrolled exposures can adversely affect workers’ health. The cadmium protocol covers biological monitoring of employees and contractors, and appropriate occupational hygiene procedures to minimise exposure.
