Lead-Coated Steels:

Lead-coated steels are more hazardous. The lead-oxide fumes can generate lead poisoning. Use a filter mask, and work in a well-ventilated area while cutting lead- coated steels. A supplied-oxygen mask would be even better.

Lead or lead-tin-coated sheet steels are utilized as roofing materials on some commercial buildings and churches and as downspouts and gutters. Lead-coated steels include lead-tin alloy coatings known as terne plate. Terne plate is utilized to make auto and tractor gas tanks and electric equipment chassis since the lead coating is simple to solder things to, whereas the steel underneath makes the product strong and rigid.

A more likely lead-poisoning risk for torch operators is cutting structural steel in demolition work. Some structural steels are coated along a red-lead primer. Remember that an old structural column might be coated with a lead primer and after that finished with cement so that you may not immediately see the red lead surface on the steel. (Check out for it with a chipping hammer.)