Any medical practitioner attending a person who is or may be suffering from lead poisoning is required to notify the Chief Health Officer (CHO), in the approved form, within 72 hours after becoming aware of the lead poisoning unless the medical practitioner knows that the CHO has been notified by another person.
Notification is also required, in writing to the CHO, by the responsible pathologist within 72 hours after becoming aware the analysis indicates the person has lead poisoning.
In the Health (Notification of Lead Poisoning) Regulations 1985, lead poisoning means a concentration of lead in a person’s whole blood at or above 5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL).
Relevant legislation
The statutory requirement to report lead poisoning is specified in Regulations 5 and 6 of the Health (Notification of Lead Poisoning) Regulations 1985.
Responsibility for notification
The medical practitioner who attends the person who is, or may be, suffering from lead poisoning
The responsible pathologist
Who must be notified?
Under the Regulations, the Chief Health Officer must be notified.
How to notify
Notifications by medical practitioners should be completed by using the Lead Notification Form for WA Clinicians (external site).
Notifications by the responsible pathologist should be made in writing to the Chief Health Officer.
Notification due
Within 72 hours
Contact
Office of the Chief Health Officer
Department of Health
PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
Email: LeadNotifications@health.wa.gov.au
Phone: 6373 3902 Fax: 9222 2322
For more information regarding elevated lead contact:
Chemical Hazards
Environmental Health Directorate
Phone: 9222 2000
Last reviewed: 16-08-2021
Produced by
Public Health