Grids are commonly produced and pasted as pairs called pasted plates or
panels. They must be separated before the battery can be built. The major source of lead exposure in the
parting process comes as a result of the grids being handled incorrectly, such as resting them against the body or handling them in unventilated
areas, which causes particles to become airborne when plates are cut or broken.
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Potential Sources of
Exposure
- Lead dust may become airborne when workers handle dry plates and move plates in
and out of the workstation.
- Lead oxide may become airborne when there is dried oxide on equipment, racks, and floors. This is especially critical for
dry-charge batteries since formation and curing in the oven has already
occurred and the plates are dry.
- Increased exposure to lead may occur when workers use buffing wheels or parting saws that
throw
particulate faster than the local exhaust ventilation can handle.
- Lead oxide particles may become dislodged and airborne during clearing
of machine jam-ups.
- Lead dust may become airborne due to improper disposal of defective plates.
- Lead dust may become airborne due to emptying the clean-out tray
improperly.
- Leaking tamping boxes contribute to settled dust on the floor.
Possible Engineering Controls
- Ventilate work station, using a down draft or a slot hood with a grating or perforated plate tamping
stand.
- Provide an opening in the tamping stand or raised positions
so lugs will not
be impacted.
- Use ventilated scrap barrel (Figure 1).
Scrap Handling Barrel/Drum Exhaust Hood
- Provide a vacuum drop at the workstation
(Figure 2).
- Retrofit buffing wheels on parting machines with stationary brushes.
- Enclose ends of machine to prevent particles from being thrown out. Design the local exhaust ventilation to capture particles generated by
buffing wheels.
Parting Station Band Saw Ventilation
Surface Grinder with Captor Hood
- Use a radial saw with local exhaust ventilation instead of a band saw.
- Clamp plates to a tilt plate when using a band saw, fit it with a long
handle so the operator can stand beside the hood opening while cutting
plates.
- Use a laminar
flow (supplied-air)
island.
- Use a guide bar (belly bar) to prevent the operator from leaning against
equipment.
- Install see-through glass or a plastic plate at the tamping stand and breaking
station.
- Exhaust ventilate rack.
- Provide a rotating base for pallet of plates.
- Locate racks close to workstation, in ventilated areas.
Possible Work Practice Controls
- Do not bang plates excessively during manual plate breaking.
- Do not break plates on metal plate or a solid board.
- Handle plates only with hands.
- Do not lean plates against the stomach.
- Wear an apron (Figure 3).
- Place, do not throw, defective plates into scrap barrel.
- Cover drums with a plastic bag before removing from area.
- Keep access doors to parting and pasting equipment closed.
- Provide adequate PPE, a change of clothes, and shower rooms (see OSHA Lead Requirements for PPE, Housekeeping, and Hygiene Facilities).
- Maintenance:
- Ensure that local exhaust ventilation is working properly.
- Prevent cross drafts.
- Enclose hood opening.
- Housekeeping:
- Vacuum clean-out trays, do not dump into barrels.
- Use dust suppression techniques including keeping floors wet (where it
does not create a hazard), using dust suppression compounds or vacuuming (Figure 4).
- Vacuum the tops of trays, workstations, and adjacent areas.
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Figure 2. Vacuuming grid plates
Figure 3. Contaminated clothing
Figure 4. Water wash-down
