Lead-Safe Work Practices

Whenever work on a home might disturb lead-based paint, it is best—and sometimes required—to use lead-safe work practices. These are simple, effective ways to make sure that nobody's health is endangered by exposure to lead during or after the work. Everyone should be aware of the potential presence of lead paint in homes built before 1978, and it is particularly important for those engaged in the building trades to learn how to perform their work in a lead-safe manner. This includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and do-it-yourselfers, too.

First, there are several unsafe paint removal methods that should be avoided at all costs:

• Power-sanding or grinding without a HEPA vacuum attachment: using power tools on lead-based paint creates tremendous amounts of toxic lead dust. A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum attachment on a shrouded power tool will trap most of the dust and prevent the bulk of it from being dispersed in the air and deposited on the floor. However, using power tools—even those that are shrouded and attached to a HEPA vacuum - is never the safest method of paint stripping.
• Dry scraping and dry sanding: using dry methods to scrape or sand paint would create extremely hazardous lead-dust conditions if the paint involved is lead-based paint. By lightly spraying surfaces with a mister before using these tools, dust can be easily avoided. However, since it is unsafe to use wet methods around electrical wiring, dry scraping or sanding is OK around small areas, but in such cases workers should wear proper respiratory protection and use appropriate personal cleanup methods on their bodies and on their clothing. Thorough specialized cleaning is called for to remove all dust created by such work.
• Uncontrolled abrasive- or hydro-blasting: using either of these methods spreads paint debris and, potentially, leaded dust beyond the work area, and causes worksite cleanup challenges. However, contained blasting and/or pressure washing are approved methods for certified lead abatement workers.
• Open flame torching or high heat gun settings: using an open flame or a high-temperature heat gun to remove paint will create highly toxic gases if it is lead paint, gases that even HEPA filter masks cannot keep out, as well as an extremely fine and toxic lead dust that is particularly difficult to clean up. Heat gun settings below 1100 degrees are safer to use, but are recommended for smaller jobs only.
• Paint strippers containing methylene chloride: using paint strippers that contain this substance is always dangerous, as methylene chloride is a known carcinogen.

The other components that together constitute lead-safe work practices are as follows:

• Worksite Preparation: set up the area where work that could disturb lead-based paint is to be performed, so that all debris from the work is contained within the worksite. Prevent unnecessary access by others to the worksite.
• Occupant Protection: take appropriate precautions to protect occupants and their belongings during ongoing work that may disturb lead-based paint.
• Specialized Cleaning: clean the worksite carefully, using specialized cleaning techniques that are effective in removing lead-contaminated dust. Cleanup activities should be ongoing during the workday, in addition to a final cleanup at the end of the job.