Check firstCheck with your care teamWork exposure

Take-home dust on work clothes, shoes or tools

Lead, pesticide, drug or other hazardous dust can travel from work into a car or home on skin, clothing, shoes, bags and tools.

Direct guidance

What to know or do

Change and wash at work where available, keep work items out of living areas and launder contaminated clothing through the employer's procedure rather than with household clothes.

What changes the answer

  • The named chemical, biological, radiation, physical or scheduling hazard
  • How often and how much exposure occurs, including spills and take-home residue
  • Engineering controls, task changes and correctly fitted PPE available at work

Check with your care team

When to get individual help

Check the exact item or situation with a doctor, midwife, pharmacist or relevant clinician; the name of a broad category is not enough for a personal decision.