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Lead Roofs and Flashing
Odd as it may seem, some roofs are made of lead. Much more
common is lead flashing, the pliable sheets of metal that are
folded around pipes, chimneys, and other items protruding from
a building through the roof. Properly installed flashing helps
channel water away from vulnerable parts of a roof.
Health Hazards:
Handling lead roofing materials and flashing would
expose a worker to lead. Also, the drip line around such roofs
could have lead-contaminated soil.
How to Minimize or Avoid Exposure: Construction
workers should take all occupational safety and health
precautions, such as using gloves and washing hands thoroughly
after handling lead roofing materials and flashing. You can
test the soil of a home's roof-drip area (below the eaves)
with a home lead
test kit. If lead is present, don't allow
children to play there. If installing a roof or flashing,
avoid buying lead products. For flashing, stainless steel and
aluminum are readily available and resistant to corrosion.
Links to Related Resources
ERF
Chemical Fact Sheet for Lead
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