HHSRS Hazard 7 - Lead

Hazard 7 - Lead

This covers the threats to health from the ingestion of lead.

The main exposure to lead in UK homes is through the removal of lead based paint on redecoration. Lead was widely used in domestic paint up until the 1960's, and since then restrictions on the use of lead in paint mean that there is likely to be little risk in post-1970 properties.

Vulnerable Group: Children under 3 years

Defects & Justifications

• Date of construction - dwellings constructed before 1970.
• Old paintwork - the presence of old paint likely to contain lead.
• Disrepair to old paint - damage and/or flaking of old paintwork likely to contain lead.
• Previous lead paintwork - where allowed to flake or inappropriately removed resulting in accessible lead in dust or garden soil.
• Lead pipework - the presence of such pipework for domestic water.
• Plumbo-solvent water - water of high acidity likely to dissolve lead in pipes.

Index of HHSRS Hazards