Gearing Up With Lead-Safety Gear... Six Indispensible, Disposable Items!

In part three of our series on containing lead dust in an EPA RRP regulated worksite, we offer up some inexpensive solutions to the problem of protecting your workers and residents from the hazards of the dust generated at the worksite. Using disposable gear and disposing of it on a daily basis is the best way keep lead dust contained in the work area. Remember, lead dust on worker clothing and materials is easily removed to other areas of the residence under renovation, worker’s vehicles and the firm’s main office as well as worker’s homes. Minuscule amounts of lead dust are enough to contaminate an area, so if you can see dust on your shoes, tools or clothes, that dust will be enough to create a lead poisoning hazard.

Here is a shopping list to help keep your employees and the areas surrounding the work space safe. There are several companies specializing in providing lead safe work gear, so we have added links to their websites to help you with your shopping.

Materials you will need
• Gloves (Latex)
• Disposable antiskid shoe covers
• Disposable Coveralls (Tyvec)
• Painters Hats or Hoods
• Protective Eye Wear: Dust Goggles or Foam Safety Glasses
• N-100-rated disposable respirators

To keep yourself and your workers safe while working in the regulated area, it is important to limit hand to mouth contact. That means no eating, drinking or smoking in the work area. Before eating or smoking, employees should wash their hands and faces to limit the possibility of ingesting lead dust. Once the workday is over employees must remove work clothing and wash-up before leaving the work site. In our next post in the series, we will offer tips on limiting the amount of dust generated during the workday to help you minimize daily and final project cleanup.

We invite our readers and followers to post comments regarding their own experiences as well as links to other sources of protective gear with great pricing and service!

Lead and Asbestos Removal Pro Kit for Under $27.00

Pro-Tect Lead Removal and Safety Products or
Complete Safety Supply
For more information on Lead Training and Certification visit our website!

Lead Poisoning: Its Symptoms and Treatment

When Does Lead Poisoning Occur and What Are the Symptoms?

Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children under the age of 6 are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal.

Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources of lead poisoning include contaminated air, water, soil, and some toys and cosmetics.

The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children may include:

• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Unusual paleness from anemia
• Learning difficulties

Lead Exposure symptoms in newborns

Babies in the womb who are exposed to lead through their mothers may have:

• Learning difficulties
• Slowed growth

In some cases, these problems may persist beyond childhood.

Lead Exposure symptoms in adults

Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous for adults. Even exposure to amounts of lead too low to cause symptoms in the short term may increase the risk of high blood pressure and mental decline in the future.

Symptoms in adults may include:

• Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Muscular weakness
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Memory loss
• Mood disorders
• Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
• Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women
• Fatigue

Treatment Options for Lead Poisoning:

Treatment for lead poisoning is based on a combination of factors including nutrition and removal of the source of contaimination.  In most instances, these measures will be sufficient to reduce lead levels in the body.

• Removal of lead paint dust and lead chips should be performed by an EPA certified lead abatement professional.  Special lead containment procedures are required during repair and renovation as well as prescribed clean-up procedures to prevent further contamination of the site.
• Nutrional support includes adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Studies find that those who eat nutritious diets rich in vitamins and minerals are less likely to absorb lead.
• If removing the source of lead and improved nutrition do not reduce blood lead levels, or in instances where the blood lead  level is initially very high, chelation therapy may be required.  Through chelation therapy, agents that cause metals like lead to bind to them are introduced to the system.  As heavy metals like lead bind to the agents they are eliminated from the body through urine. Since chelating agents increase the absorption of metals including lead, it is essential that prior to treatment all sources of lead exposure be removed.
• If blood levels for lead do not lower with the above treatments, it is suggested that you recheck the home or building for other sources of lead contamination.  Certified lead inspectors can help determine if a contamination site has been overlooked.

The new EPA RRP Lead Safety Rule - Myth, Mania or Material Risk?

Many of our students enter the new EPA Lead Paint Certification classes skeptical of the real risks that might be involved in working on lead-based paint contaminated renovations.  After all, US regulations discontinued its sale after 1978. Students question whether the new regulations will merely hinder their ability to get the job done. 

While contamination levels have dropped since the 1960’s, the CDC estimates that approximately 250,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.  The Ohio ABLES Registry reports that 14% of adults age 16-80 tested for elevated lead levels had levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.  Elevated contamination levels were most likely to be reported for individuals in the age range of 40-64. It is assumed that this greater risk is due to the fact that these individuals are more likely to be working fulltime, thus increasing their risk of exposure.

Lead causes long term nervous system damage, stunted growth, delayed development, and emotional issues in children and adults.  It has been known to cause kidney damage and can affect most organ systems in the body. As a danger to adults, it can cause reproductive problems for both men and women. Lead paint is particularly treacherous because it tastes sweet, therefore encouraging children to put lead chips and toys with lead dust in their mouth.

One myth related to lead-based paint is that children must eat leaded paint chips to develop lead poisoning, when in fact the most common exposure to children occurs through ingestion of lead dust from normal hand-to-mouth contact when they swallow lead dust dislodged from deteriorated paint or leaded dust generated during contractor repair work, remodeling or paint surface preparation work.

Much like Asbestos and second hand smoke, lead dust is an insidious contaminant that is not easily eliminated from the body by normal processes.  Given that lead dust is portable and can easily contaminate ventilation systems, vehicles and worker’s clothing, the EPA’s guidelines for lead safety, containment and protective gear are meaningful and necessary.  To learn more about the guidelines and learn how to get the lead out right, click on the links to the EPA’s RRP website.  If you are interested in learning more about the curriculum and exam necessary for certification check out our website at www.leadpaintremovaltraining.com.  In my next post, I’ll go over the specifics of lead poisoning: its symptoms in children and adults as well as treatment options.