General recommendations for reducing hazardous worker lead exposures during LBP removal on steel structures include the following:
Use safer surface preparation alternatives, including overcoating, chemical stripping, wet blasting, and power tools with LEV instead of traditional abrasive blasting.
Provide engineering controls to the extent feasible, including isolation, local exhaust and general dilution ventilation.
Use respirators with an assigned protection factor of at least 1000 during abrasive blasting of LBP inside containment structures.
Research and education are needed to improve worker protection during maintenance and repainting of steel structures coated with LBP. This should include the use of improved engineering controls and highly protective respirators for abrasive blasting. Key research and development needs related to improving worker protection in the steel structures painting industry include the following:
Develop automated systems for LBP removal.
Establish specifications for local exhaust ventilation on vacuum power tools.
Establish dilution ventilation specifications for containment structures.
Develop chemical removal methods which do not require abrasive blasting for final surface preparation.
Develop surface tolerant coatings that reduce the need for removal of existing LBP.
General recommendations to reduce hazardous worker lead exposures during lead abatement and residential renovation include the following:
Use enclosure, encapsulation, and replacement methods instead of on-site paint removal methods where possible.
Do not remove paint by torch burning, dry manual scraping, and conventional power tools; instead use vacuum power tools and wet scraping.
Use general dilution ventilation to provide adequate outside air when working in sealed or contained work areas.
Employ good hygiene practices and administrative controls, including worker and supervisor training.
Further research is needed to improve assessment of lead exposures during residential renovation and abatement activities. This research should include characterization of the building and workplace environments, airborne lead exposures during common tasks and jobs, pre- and post-job surface lead dust levels, paint lead measurements, documentation of task duration and square feet affected, and worker BLLs.
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