EPA Lead Supervisor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Lead-based paint definition

Paint or other surface coating that contains lead equal to or exceeding 1.0 milligram per square centimeter, or 0.5 percent (5,000 ppm) lead by weight.

Child lead absorption rate

Children absorb roughly 40 to 50 percent of ingested lead, compared with about 10 to 15 percent in adults, raising their risk from dust and soil.

Bare soil lead hazard levels

Bare soil is a lead hazard at 400 ppm in play areas and 1,200 ppm in other bare soil where children are likely to be exposed.

Lead effects on heme synthesis

Lead inhibits ALA dehydratase and ferrochelatase, impairing heme production and causing microcytic anemia, and it disrupts calcium-dependent nerve and enzyme functions.

CDC blood lead reference value

CDC uses 3.5 micrograms per deciliter as the blood lead reference value, the level above which a child's exposure is unusually high; no safe level is established.

Dust-lead hazard standards

The long-standing federal standards are 10 micrograms per square foot on floors, 100 on interior window sills, and 400 in window troughs.

TSCA Title IV authority

Title IV of the Toxic Substances Control Act, implemented at 40 CFR Part 745, authorizes EPA's lead-based paint abatement, certification, and disclosure requirements.

Abatement notification deadline

The certified firm must notify EPA or the authorized state program in writing at least 5 working days before abatement begins, unless the state sets a longer period.

RRP coverage thresholds

The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule covers pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities when work disturbs more than 6 square feet interior or 20 square feet exterior.

Pre-renovation education pamphlet

Before renovating pre-1978 housing, the firm must give the occupant EPA's pamphlet 'Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home' and document that delivery.

OSHA construction lead standard

29 CFR 1926.62 sets a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and an action level of 30, both as 8-hour time-weighted averages.

State program authorization

EPA may authorize a state to run the lead abatement certification and notification program; state rules may be stricter, and the more stringent requirement controls.

Enclosure abatement method

Enclosure covers lead-painted surfaces with rigid, durable materials such as drywall or paneling, sealed and fastened so the original painted surface is not disturbed.

Encapsulation limits

Coatings may be applied only to surfaces that are not friction, impact, or chewable, and only when the product is listed for that substrate and used per label.

Critical barrier purpose

Critical barriers seal doors, windows, HVAC vents, and other openings with plastic and tape so dust cannot migrate out of the contained work area.

Negative air machine function

HEPA-filtered negative air machines exhaust air outdoors and keep the containment under negative pressure, preventing dust and fumes from escaping the work area.

Prohibited abatement practices

Open-flame burning, uncontrolled abrasive blasting, dry machine sanding without HEPA exhaust, hydroblasting without containment, and methylene chloride strippers are prohibited.

Heat gun temperature limit

OSHA limits heat guns used to strip lead-based paint to operating temperatures below 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid generating lead fumes.

Supervisor site presence

A certified abatement supervisor must be physically present at the work site whenever abatement is performed and must direct only trained and certified workers.

Permissible exposure limit for lead

The OSHA permissible exposure limit for lead in construction is 50 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time-weighted average, measured by personal air sampling.

Action level for lead

The 30 µg/m³ action level triggers exposure monitoring, medical surveillance eligibility, and blood lead plus ZPP testing at least every 6 months.

Respirator assigned protection factor

Assigned protection factors state the concentration reduction a respirator class provides: half-mask 10, full facepiece 50, powered air-purifying respirator with loose-fitting hood 25.

Medical removal threshold

A worker is removed from lead exposure when blood lead averages 50 micrograms per deciliter or more, and may return after it falls below 40.

Respirator program requirements

A written program must cover medical evaluation, annual fit testing, training, cartridge change schedules, cleaning and storage, and evaluation of program effectiveness.

Mandatory shower requirement

Showers are required when airborne lead exceeds the PEL on more than 30 days per year; otherwise wash-up facilities and separate clean change areas suffice.

Final cleaning sequence

Cleaning proceeds top-down: HEPA vacuum all surfaces, wet wash with detergent, then HEPA vacuum again before any clearance dust sampling is performed.

Clearance wipe levels

Long-standing clearance levels are 40 micrograms per square foot on floors, 250 on interior window sills, and 400 in window troughs; exceeding any level requires recleaning.

Clearance independence requirement

Clearance must be performed by a certified inspector, risk assessor, or clearance technician who is independent of the abatement contractor and its crew.

Visual inspection at clearance

Before dust sampling, the work area must show no visible dust, paint chips, debris, or residue on surfaces, with containment still intact.

TCLP waste determination

Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure testing determines whether abatement debris is hazardous; leachate at or above 5 mg/L lead makes it D008 hazardous waste.

Abatement report delivery

The contractor provides the building owner a written abatement report, typically within 10 days of completion, describing methods, dates, workers, and clearance results.

Worker medical record retention

OSHA requires employee exposure and medical records for lead-exposed workers to be kept 30 years, longer than most project or certification records.