Lead Paint Blog

Lead paint coats many steel surfaces such as bridges, pipes, silos, and fuel tanks.  When evaluating a paint removal method for steel structures several factors must be considered.  First, the effectiveness of the removal method in actually removing the lead paint.  Soda blasting or other abrasive blasting is a common method, but blasting requires a lot of equipment and it is difficult to contain the hazardous lead paint.  Using a chemical stripper uses much less equipment and makes containment easy while it is just as effective if not more effective in stripping the paint off steel surfaces. 

Containment is always an issue when removing lead paint.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain precautions are taken to reduce exposure to workers.  Containing the dust and debris generated by removing lead paint is essential to meeting OSHA requirements.  This makes any type of blasting inefficient, because workers will have to wear significant personal protective equipment (ppe) and setup physical barriers around the work site to prevent spreading the hazardous lead dust.  When a non-toxic, non-caustic chemical stripper is used, less ppe is required and the lead dust is automatically contained by the paint stripper itself.  This will ensure compliance with OSHA, and if the stripper renders the lead non-hazardous, it will be easy to comply with EPA and HAZMAT requirements as well.

Some paint strippers can corrode the steel or be harmful to the workers.  That is why only non-toxic, non-caustic paint strippers should be used to remove lead paint from steel structures. 

Finally, you want the most bang for your buck.  Many paint strippers cannot cover more than 25 square feet per gallon.  Compare paint stripper coverage area before you buy. 

  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires lead paint inspectors, risk assessors, lead paint abatement supervisors, and lead paint abatement workers to obtain certification from the EPA or a State authorized training program.  It is a simple application with a nominal fee.  Some positions, such as supervisor and risk assessor, must meet higher qualifications like passing a test or having one year experience.  Before professionals can begin lead paint removal activity, they must obtain certification. 

   Individuals conducting lead paint removal activities privately in their home or other property are not required to obtain certification.  Only if you are in the business of inspecting, assessing, supervising, or working with lead based paint will you need EPA certification.  Individuals should, for their own sake and the sake of the environment, adhere to lead safe work practices.

  Professionals are required to conduct lead paint removal activities in accordance with lead safe work practices.  This involves posting warning signs around the work site, sealing off particular rooms, using a HEPA air filter if lead dust is stirred up, and, most importantly, reducing the amount of lead dust created.  Also, lead paint waste is normally hazardous and must be handled, transported, and disposed of under hazardous material regulations.

  To make adherence to lead safe work practices easier, professionals and individuals should use a non-toxic, paste-like paint stripper.  The IFS LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper is the best of breed when it comes to removing lead paint.  There is virtually no dust during removal and the lead is rendered non-hazardous so you don’t have to deal with hazardous waste.  This makes containment easier and eliminates the need for HEPA filters.  If you need confirmation that the material is non-hazardous to pass a clearance test or send it to a non-hazardous waste site, diagnostic labs can do a TCLP test to demonstrate the lead paint waste is non-hazardous.

  Workers in a number of industries work with lead based paint on a regular basis.  Contractors who work on old houses especially for renovations or remodelling must remove lead paint.  Workers run into lead paint on fuel tankers, bridges, shipyards, industrial facilities, and storage silos.  With any industrial lead paint removal, OSHA and EPA regulations must be observed.

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a high priority on reducing lead exposure among American workers.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also identified exposure to lead as a serious environmental hazard.  Basically, if you work with lead paint you must follow precautions to avoid inhalation of lead dust and avoid spreading the lead dust to other locations.  Employers must provide personal protective equipment and make a reasonable effort given the situation to protect their workers.

  One product that will increase compliance with OSHA and EPA standards in all industries working with lead paint is IFS LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper.  This non-toxic paint stripper is industrial strength, because it will remove multiple coats of paint and cover up to 120 square feet of surface area per gallon.  It will also render lead and other heavy metals non-hazardous making the work much safer.  Not only will the work be safer and easier, but the lead paint residue will be non-hazardous waste.  Normally, lead paint waste must disposed of in a hazardous waste site, which can cost significantly more than non-hazardous waste sites.  Hence, LEAD-OUT® will help bring your project into compliance with OSHA and EPA regulations as well as save money on containment, transportation, and disposal, because you will remove the handling of hazardous waste from your industrial lead paint removal project.

   Lead Poisoning can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, emotional problems, mental retardation, stunted growth, and damage to internal organs such as kidneys, liver, and bones.  The worst effects include coma and even death from lead poisoning. Within the last ten years, children have died from lead poisoning in New Hampshire and in Alabama. Also, a large portion of the prison population has elevated lead levels in their blood, leading many experts to believe lead poisoning increases criminal behavior.  With reduced IQ and emotional problems, it is not surprising that kids who suffer from lead poisoning turn to crime as young adults.

   Many states require doctors to test infants and toddlers for lead in their blood.  Many people, especially in high risk populations like low-income populations, do not receive the mandated testing.  It is up to parents to demand testing from their doctors or other health professionals.  Community clinics usually have free testing for lead poisoning. 

   Lead poisoning hazards need to be permanently removed to ensure a healthy home.  Parents need to get their children tested, but the goal is to eliminate the hazards before children get poisoned.  Only safe permanent removal of lead paint will guarantee no future lead poisoning.

    In April 2010, new regulations from the EPA will require all renovations in pre-1978 houses to follow lead safe work practices.  This essentially outlaws unsafe methods of lead paint removal, requires certification of workers and supervisors, and requires dust sampling to ensure no lead dust remains after work is completed.  Scraping, sanding, burning, or using any power tools that might kick up lead dust will be illegal paint removal methods in houses built before 1978.  
    Almost every contractor has worked on a house built before 1978, and most of them used some form of scraping or sanding to remove lead paint.  Also, many people remove lead paint without any training and fail to properly clean up afterwards.  The new regulations will require all professionals to obtain certification before starting any lead paint removal project. The EPA is also requiring dust sampling when the project is completed, because contractors will have to demonstrate that no lead dust remains in the house.
     Contractors and painters will all have to find a new lead paint removal methods or face very harsh penalties for non-compliance.  Some of these methods require expensive equipment.  If you want to scrape or sand the lead paint, you will need to use a wet method and have industrial HEPA vacuums constantly running.  Furthermore, precautions must be taken to contain the hazardous lead dust.  Not only does this include a basic quarantine of the work area and posting warning signs on all entrances, but everyone must wear personal protective equipment such as respirators, goggles, coveralls, and gloves.
    Some of these regulations cannot be avoided such as certification, posting warning signs, and passing the dust sampling clearance tests.  Many of the precautions, however, become unnecessary when certain paint strippers are used to remove lead paint.  Only non-toxic, non-caustic paint strippers should be used for lead paint removal. 
    A paste-like or semi-paste stripper will virtually eliminate lead dust, because the stripper will dissolve most of the paint and trap the dust in the residue.  Also, there are a few paint strippers that render lead paint non-hazardous.  The only one I am familiar with that permanently changes the lead paint is Lead-Out Paint Stripper, which also neutralizes other heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, and zinc. Non-hazardous waste disposal is much cheaper than hazardous waste disposal.  Using such a paint stripper will ensure compliance with the law as well as everyone’s safety.