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Removing Lead Based Paint
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
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Safety First:
It is important that during the abatement
process you do not stir up any flakes or powder from the lead based paint.
Homes with central heating and/or air conditioning systems are especially
susceptible to taking in the fine lead based paint powder and distributing it
through the rest of the home. As well, performing the abatement process
with windows open might spread the lead based paint flakes and powder to other
areas of the home.
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Lead based Paint Abatement
Safety Tips:
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Lead based
paint abatement is not a family project! Children and
women who are pregnant should remain well away from the
area where the abatement is taking place. This is a
perfect time for the kids to spend a few nights visiting
their grandparents.
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Turn
furnaces and any other ventilating systems within the home
off.
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Tape 6-mil
polyethylene sheets over all openings into and out of the
abatement area including doors, fireplaces and kitchen pass-throughs.
Fireplaces provide a constant up-draft for hot air, even
when the fireplace is not on. This up-draft can
circulate any small flakes and/or powder.
Selection of
6-mil polyethylene sheeting
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It is best
if the room is empty while performing the abatement
procedures to ensure that any lead based paint flakes or
powder do not end up embedded in other objects. If
items cannot be removed, cover them with 2 layers of the
6-mil polyethylene sheets, taping all the seams with duct
tape.
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Cover the
floor with a layer of 6-mil polyethylene and tape the
sheeting to the baseboards using duct tape. Ensure
that the corners of the floor are protected, as it is not
uncommon to have small gaps between the polyethylene and the
walls where walls intersect at right angles.
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You can
easily become the method of distributing the lead based
paint flakes and powder throughout your home if you do not
follow strict safety procedures. As well, it is
important that you protect yourself from inhaling any lead
based paint particles.
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Dress in disposable coveralls (Figure 4), use disposable shoes
or shoe covers (Figure 5), use a disposable hair cover (Figure 6), goggles
(Figure 7) and an
approved respirator that utilizes a HEPA filter, as shown in
Figure 8. It should be noted that basic paper and/or fiber
dust masks (Figure 9) are not sufficient to protect you from
inhaling small lead based paint particles.
Note: An approved respirator will show an approval number
that is in this sequence, TC-21C-xxx, on the unit.
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Do not eat,
drink or smoke in the abatement area or outside the
abatement area if you are still wearing your protective
clothing.
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Figure 10 - HEPA Filter Vacuum |
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When you are
finished working in the abatement area you should wait at
least 15 minutes for all any particles that are in the air
to settle. Remove disposable clothing in the abatement
area. If you have any particles on your clothes,
vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum (Figure 10).
Selection of HEPA Vacuums
Note : A HEPA filter vacuum is the only type that should
be used on the abatement project. Once all of the
abatement is completed, remove the HEPA filter from the vacuum and dispose of it
as part of the contaminated material. Don't forget to
clean the vacuum itself, vacuum hoses, wands and accessories, in
order to avoid spreading particles next time you use the vacuum
cleaner.
You should shower as soon as practical after completing work.
Continued.........
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