I have read the ACOP on the HSE website with regards to working with lead. We have foundation works starting soon and the ground has been tested and come back with a high contamination of lead. This is ovisouly going to effect the builders putting the foundations in when there have to get in the holes that will be dug and insert there boarding and supports for the foundations. What I can gather is that as long as there will be good ventlation and that imimpermable clothing and foot wear is worn including gloves this will surfice to protecting the builders from any chance of coming in to contact with lead. Has anyone else come across this problem before and if so other than changing the working methods is there anything else that can be done?

I thought about damping the ground down first with water and to have a hose pipe at the point of work. The soil from the hole will be getting disposed off through a hazardous landfill site.

All good sensible suggestions. I would also recommend having employee blood samples taken to ascertain the level of lead in the blood, before starting the work (during the work if long enough period of time) and after completion. That way there is evidence that the precautions taken have been adequate or not. Rodger Ker.