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Beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that
are hired to perform renovation, repair and painting projects in
homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 that
disturb lead-based paint to be certified and follow specific work
practices to prevent lead contamination.
Even before contractors are required to be certified and follow
specific work practices, the contractor should follow these three
simple procedures, described below:
1. Contain the work area. The area should be contained so that
dust and debris do not escape from that area. Warning signs should
be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used as
appropriate to:
· Cover
the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.
· Seal
off doors and heating and cooling system vents. These will help
prevent dust or debris from getting outside the work area.
2. Minimize dust. There is no way to eliminate dust, but some
methods make less dust than others. For example, using water to
mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before
separating components; and prying and pulling apart components
instead of breaking them are techniques that generate less dust
than alternatives. Some methods generate large amounts of
lead-contaminated dust and should not be used. They are:
· Open
flame burning or torching.
· Sanding,
grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools
and equipment not equipped with a shroud and HEPA vacuum
attachment.
· Using
a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.
3. Clean up thoroughly. The work area should be cleaned up daily
to keep it as clean as possible. When all the work is done, the
area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods before
taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest
of the home. The special cleaning methods should include:
· Using
a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces,
followed by
· Wet
mopping with plenty of rinse water.
When the final cleaning is done, look around. There should be no
dust, paint chips, or debris in the work area. If you see any
dust, paint chips, or debris, the area should be re-cleaned.
Courses available in
Mississippi:
www.ce.msstate.edu/training
Or Call: (662) 325-5002
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