6.12     CONTROL OF LEAD HAZARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS

 

Lead was a major ingredient in many types of paint until the late 1940s.  In the early 1950s, other pigment materials became more popular; however, lead compounds were still used in some pigments and as drying agents.  Federal regulations lowered the permissible lead content in dry paint film to 0.5% in 1973 and again in 1978 to 0.06%.  Because of the potential for widespread use at UNM, we must expect that any building constructed earlier than 1980 will contain lead-bearing paints.

 

A.        SCOPE

 

This document describes appropriate methods for managing lead hazards associated with renovation or demolition projects.  It is intended to be used by those involved with the planning processes of renovation and construction projects and those responsible for oversight during the construction phase.  It can be expected that, because of the increasing regulatory activity in this area, these guidelines may require periodic modification.  Renovation and construction project designers must contact the Department of Safety and Risk Services (SRS) to ensure adequate and up-to-date information is utilized during the planning process.

 

B.        REFERENCES

 

            29 CFR 1910.1025, OSHA Lead Standard for General Industry

            29 CFR 1926.62, OSHA Lead Standard for Construction

            40 CFR Parts 260-272, EPA Hazardous Waste Regulations

            24 CFR Part 35, Lead Disclosure Rule, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development

 

C.        RESPONSIBILITIES

 

1.         Renovation and construction project planners and managers are accountable for:

 

·         ensuring that all requirements of this policy are carried out as applicable to their specific projects, and

·         coordinating efforts between the Physical Plant Department or the Office of Capital Projects, the Safety and Risk Services Department (SRS) and the selected contractor.

 

2.         The Safety and Risk Services Department  (SRS) is accountable for:

 

·         advising project planners and managers concerning the lead hazards that may affect their projects;

·         Utilizing an INNOV-X systems alpha series X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer to measure for potential lead-based paint on selected accessible painted surfaces;

·         hiring consultants to perform surveys to assess the presence and scope of lead-containing materials, when necessary;

·         hiring abatement contractors to remove lead paint prior to construction or renovation projects, when necessary;

·         taking bulk samples for laboratory analysis (EPA TCLP analyses) and/or classifying materials as regulated hazardous waste or as non-regulated construction debris, if applicable; and

·         acting as a liaison between University of New Mexico and regulatory authorities.

 

D.        IMPLEMENTATION

 

1.         Inspection

 

When a renovation or demolition project is identified by any UNM department, i.e., Office of Capital Projects or Physical Plant Department, a written scope of work and renovation plans are provided to SRS utilizing the Hazardous Materials Inspection Request Form (see under “Important Forms” in the Industrial Hygiene section of the SRS web site).  Once SRS is informed of a project that may involve lead-bearing paints (LBP), SRS staff will perform or coordinate an inspection of the affected areas, to provide information that is essential to the project planning process. Specifically, inspection results will facilitate early decisions about expected occupational exposures to lead-contaminated dust, the necessity for abatement of LBP, control measures, and the potential for generation of regulated hazardous lead-contaminated waste.

 

Because of the potential impact on the project, it is paramount that inspections are conducted in such a manner to ensure that resultant information is useful.  Therefore, a sufficient number of measurements or samples must be obtained (because of  such variables as paint film thickness, inadequate mixing, number of coats, etc.) to assure accurate classification.

 

XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Sampling.  The SRS INNOV-X Systems alpha series X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer is calibrated to provide results in parts per million of lead by weight. At least five (5) measurements must be taken of each homogeneous building component with a similar coating.  For large area projects involving multiple rooms, the following matrix shall be used:

                        Up to 25 rooms           1 sample of each component in each room

                        26 - 75 rooms              1 sample of each component in 50% of rooms

                        76 - 150 rooms            1 sample of each component in 35% of rooms

 

Bulk Sampling for LBP.  At least two (2) samples must be taken of each building component with similar coating.  If sampling by scraping paint, the area scraped must be quantified.  The paint within this test area (6.25 square centimeters is recommended) is scraped down to the substrate and submitted for analysis of lead content (in ppm)  by an accredited laboratory.

 

Sampling for the EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP) test.   Representative composite samples of at least 125 grams will be taken of the materials expected to become construction debris during any renovation and/or demolition of buildings, and which were determined to exceed 5,000 ppm during XRF and bulk sampling.  These composite samples are to be submitted for lead analysis by the EPA’s TCLP test by an accredited laboratory.

 

 

2.         Project Planning

 

Once the inspection is complete, the Safety and Risk Services Department will present a report of the measurements taken, coupled with specific recommendations to the project planners within the Physical Plant Department or Office of Capital Projects.  Such recommendations will address, but not necessarily be limited to the following areas:

 

·         Necessity for abatement prior to general construction, renovation and/or demolition.

·         Types of engineering and administrative controls necessary to protect employees in potentially affected areas.

·         Management of lead-contaminated waste materials.

 

3.         Abatement

 

Abatement will be required whenever TCLP analytical results show lead levels in the extract at or above 5.0 milligrams per liter by the EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP), as these materials are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous wastes, and cannot be legally disposed at regular landfills.  All work will be done by a contractor who has been prequalified by SRS, and who is contractually obligated to comply with all applicable OSHA and EPA regulations.  

 

4.         Notification

 

The University of New Mexico Project Manager will inform contractors of the presence of LBP and other lead-containing materials that may affected by the project.  This may be done by  letter with the analytical results attached.

 

5.         EPA Regulated Lead-Bearing Hazardous Wastes

 

Construction wastes from lead abatement projects analytical results that show lead levels at or above 5.0 milligrams per liter in the extract by the EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP) test,  are regulated as hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  Because RCRA regulations demand that UNM retain ownership and concomitant liability for the wastes until destruction/disposal, it is essential that all such wastes be managed through the SRS Hazardous Chemical Waste Program (Section 4.07 of the SRS Manual).  If appropriate, SRS will obtain representative samples of waste materials generated prior to and during renovation and demolition projects for analysis.  If analytical results show lead levels at or above 5.0 milligrams per liter by the EPA’s Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP) test, all such wastes will regulated as EPA hazardous waste.