Abatement Methods, Containment and On-the-Job Supervision
Methods
Abatement must permanently eliminate the hazard: component replacement, substrate removal (wet scraping and sanding, chemical stripping, HEPA-equipped abrasive blasting, heat gun below 1100°F), enclosure with a rigid barrier mechanically fastened and sealed, encapsulation with a coating evaluated for that substrate, and soil abatement by removal, covering or cultivation. Enclosure and encapsulation are not acceptable where the surface is deteriorated, friction, impact or chewable, because the barrier will fail or be breached.
Containment
Seal first. Critical barriers go over HVAC registers, doors, windows and plumbing; two layers of 6-mil poly on floors and one layer on walls and objects, overlapped and taped; warning signs; restricted, logged entry; a decontamination unit with dirty room, shower or airlock, and clean room. Maintain negative pressure with HEPA exhaust where feasible and inspect containment at the start of each shift.
Supervision
A certified supervisor must be assigned and present to oversee the work: verify worker training, brief the crew on the project design, keep containment intact, enforce respirator and PPE use, require wet methods and HEPA vacuuming, stop work when practices fail, and control waste staging.
Traps
- Prohibited: open-flame burning, heat guns above 1100°F, uncontained abrasive or water blasting, methylene chloride stripping in poorly ventilated spaces.
- Dry scraping and dry sanding are restricted; use wet methods or HEPA tools.
- The heat-gun limit is the fume-forming temperature (1100°F), not lead's melting point (621°F).
- Cleaning runs top-down, from the farthest corner toward the exit.
Rule of thumb
Contain, then remove, then clean - never in another order. If debris or dust can escape the containment, the job stops until it is repaired.