Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Lead Inspector Study Guide

Sources of Lead Exposure

• Learn common sources of lead exposure at Lead-Safe Wisconsin Sources of Lead, including lead-based paint and dust, lead in soil, and drinking water, among others.
• Read about where lead is found in various jobs and hobbies at the EPA. Read which hobbies increase your risk of lead exposure and whether they generate lead dust.

Health Effects

• In children:
  • Read more about Lead-Safe Wisconsin Sources of Lead Poisoning and when the symptoms and health effects can appear. Then, review what research shows when children have elevated blood lead levels and how children get lead poisoned.
  • Read about surveillance and data collection of childhood lead exposure in CDC's Blood Lead Surveillance.
  • Learn about how children get poisoned by lead, including the health hazards, prevalence rates, and highest risk populations on pages 1-4 to 1-5 in Chapter 1.
• In adults:
  • Find out about lead in the workplace and how it impacts adults who are exposed at CDC's Lead in the Workplace.
  • Read about how exposure commonly occurs for adults at Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Protecting Adults from Lead Exposure Read the list of workplace situations that carry greater risk of exposure to products containing lead or areas with lead dust and fumes

Quiz

• Quiz yourself on background information

Regulations

• Read EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule that requires certain projects to be performed by lead-safe certified contractors.
• Read the regulatory framework for lead hazard control on page 1-10 in Chapter 1. Review the regulations for each federal agency, including HUD, EPA, OSHA, and the CDC.
  • HUD and the EPA have guidelines for sellers of homes built before 1978.
  • Read EPA's real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards. There is guidance to sellers, landlords, real estate agents and property managers so that renters and prospective buyers make informed choices.
• The EPA established the National Lead Laboratory Accredited Program (NLLAP) to ensure laboratories accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples of lead.
  • Read about why the NLLAP was created and how it works.

DHS Certification

• In Wisconsin, the agency that regulates lead training and certification is the Department of Health Services (DHS) through Lead-Safe Wisconsin.
• DHS 163 includes the requirements for certification when working with lead-based paint hazards.
• In DHS 163, read about the activities in target house and child-occupied facilities that require Wisconsin certification. Read more about how to get trained and certified to perform lead work.
• DHS 163 covers training and certification requirements for lead activities. Anyone doing a regulated lead investigation must be working for a certified lead company. Read a short list of activities each of the lead investigation disciplines (sampling technician, inspector, hazard investigator, and risk assessor) may conduct in DHS 163.
  • More specifically, read the activities a lead inspector may – and may not - conduct in DHS 163.
  • Read DHS's Lead Inspector page about how to become a lead inspector and what work they can do. After reading the top part of the page, scroll down to learn how to apply to become a lead inspector.
• If you complete any lead investigation activities (for example, clearance, lead inspection, risk assessment, hazard screen), submit a quarterly summary report.
  • Read the requirements of the quarterly lead investigation report in DHS 163.
• Read general information about how to do clearance on pages 15-4 to 15-6 in Chapter 15. On these pages, find out who is qualified to conduct clearance.
  • To gain further information about who can conduct clearances, read the qualifications for clearance examiners on page 15-10 under Regulatory Qualifications.
• Get a general overview of certificates of lead-free status and lead-free inspections:
  • Read about how properties can get a certificate of lead-free status in DHS 163
  • Read who may conduct a lead-free inspection in DHS 163

Quiz

• Quiz yourself on general regulatory information and DHS certification

• Read DHS’s work practice standards and checklists for lead inspections in Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Resources for Lead Investigators.
  • Scroll down to Lead investigation tools, and select report templates, self-review checklists, and regulatory updates.
• Read how to do a lead-based paint inspection on page 7-5 in Chapter 7.
• Read about lead inspections and partial lead inspections in DHS 163. Once there, read who may conduct them, the locations to test, paint analysis and XRF requirements, and what to include on the written report.

Building Components and Systems

• Windows, doors, and stairs are common sources of lead-based paint.
• Read about the building components, specifically windows, that contain lead dust in Chapter 5.
  • Go to E. Dust Sampling or start reading on page 5-40 (3. Selection of Locations within Rooms). As you read, review the basic plan for taking dust wipe samples, including selection of rooms and components.
• Read about Window Systems (11-37), Door Systems (11-40), and Stair Systems (11-41) in Chapter 11. View illustrations of a stair system with various parts labeled on page 11-42.
• Study the components of windows (page 12-19), doors (12-20), and stairs (12-30) in Chapter 12.

Testing Combinations

• Read about Lead-based Paint Inspections on pages 7-5 to 7-7 in Chapter 7.
  • To learn about testing combinations, read step #8 on page 7-6.
  • It is not recommended to only take paint chip samples for an inspection, but there are cases when it is necessary. Read about these cases on pages 7-13 to 7-14.
  • The standard for what constitutes lead-based paint can be found in the How to Do It section on page 7-5. Read #3.
  • Read the definition of lead-based paint on page 7-16.

Painted Surfaces Inventory

• Read the definition of testing combinations on page 7-17 in Chapter 7. Take note of which factors cannot be used to determine paint history or the presence of lead-based paint
  • Then, examine and study the examples of interior and exterior building component types that should be tested in Table 7.1 on page 7-18.
  • Review the various items to record in an inventory during a lead-based paint inspection.
    • Read about Inspections in Single-Family Housing on page 7-19.
    • Review the six parts in this section, starting with determining the number of room equivalents, on pages 7-20 to 7-21.

Multi-Family

• Read the overview of how to conduct a lead inspection in a multi-family unit in Chapter 7.
  • Read about inspections in multi-family housing starting on page 7-36.
  • Read Statistical Confidence in Dwelling Unit Sampling on page 7-36, focusing on how to select units based on pre-1960 and 1960 to 1977 housing units.
  • Read page 7-37 about the selection of housing units, common areas, and exterior site areas
  • Analyze Table 7.3 on pages 7-38 to 7-39, which shows the number of units to be tested based on the dates of building construction.
  • Read the two important steps about how the units should be selected on the bottom of page 7-37 and the top of page 7-40
  • Read how to select specific units on page 7-40 using the random number formula. In the middle of the page, it lists some formulas to determine which unit to randomly select. Read the example about 50 units in the development, specifically how a random unit is selected. Take the Module 3 Quiz to do a practice problem
  • Become familiar with, and learn how to use, Table 7.3 (Number of Units to be Tested in Multi-family Building or Developments) on page 7-38 and 7-39. Take the Module 3 Quiz to do a practice problem
  • Read Classification of XRF Results in Multi-family Housing on pages 7-41 to 7-42. Pay special attention to the part about testing combinations and if the XRF readings come back positive or negative. Also, find out the minimum number of components that must be tested depending on whether previous test samples were positive or negative
  • On page 7-43, review HUD’s Multi-family Decision Flowchart (Figure 7.3).
    • This chart will help you determine whether lead-based paint (LBP) is present, or not present, development-wide.
    • On page 7-42, read the paragraph before the flowchart, which also explains how it is determined if LBP is present in the building.
    • As you read this description and analyze the chart, pay attention to the percentages and which decision would be made (Yes / No) based on those percentages.

XRF Analyzers

• Read about Xray Florescent Devices (XRFs) when performing lead-based paint inspections in C. Other Sources of Information on pages 7-10 to 7-13 in Chapter 7.
  • On page 7-13, read a general overview of when to use an XRF Performance Characteristic Sheet.
  • Read about substrate correction when interpreting XRF readings on page 7-26. On page 7-27, read when substrate correction is NOT required, and if it is, read 2. Substrate Correction Procedure on pages 7-27 to 7-28.
  • Learn about how many readings you need to take in each room using an XRF Analyzer on page 7-22.
  • Read about the Number and Location of XRF Readings on page 7-22.
  • Read the definitions of Building Component Types on page 7-16 and Testing Combination on page 7-17. Review Table 7.2 about distinct testing combinations.
  • Review about calibration checks on an XRF on page 7-25 to 7-26.
• Read DHS's requirements for XRF Devices:
  • Read the information about what to consider before buying an XRF, applying for certification, and which agency licenses and maintains registration of XRFs in Wisconsin.
  • Under the section Before buying an XRF, review the Performance Characteristic Sheet (PCS) to find a list of XRF models. Examine the various sections and information on the sheet.

Paint Chip Sampling

• Get a general overview of paint chip sample collection on page 5-51 in Chapter 5.
  • In the section titled Paint Chip Sample Collection and Analysis. Read up to page 5-54.
  • Read about paint testing methods on pages 5-51 to 5-54. Read the methods used to identify lead-based paint during inspections and risk assessments, and which surfaces should be tested for lead-based paint.
  • Review the Field Paint Chip Sampling Form on page 5-103. This is the form you can use when sending paint chip samples to a laboratory.
• Read about laboratory testing for lead in paint-chip samples on page 7-45 to 7-50 in Chapter 7. including number of samples to take, the size, and laboratory analysis methods. You can also read how to collect paint chip samples, and what to do before, during, and after collecting the paint chip samples.
  • Read page 7-59 about how to do inspections in multi-family housing. Find out which forms to include when you send paint chip samples to the laboratory.
• Read about paint chip sampling in Appendix 13.2. On the last page in the section heading Laboratory Submittal, read about what to include on the chain of custody form.

Dust Wipe Sampling

• Review the chart of the type of samples you need to take for a lead inspection in table 5.1 on page 5-10 in Chapter 5. The chart includes which samples to take for a lead-based paint inspection. As you analyze the chart, take notes about which samples are required for each one, specifically a lead-based paint inspection. If the chart says ‘Yes,’ that means a sample is required

Analyzing Results

• Read how to do a lead-based paint inspection on page 7-5 in Chapter 7.
• Read step #3, specifically the HUD/EPA standard for lead-based paint.
• Read on page 7-22 about the locations where you need to take XRF Readings, including which surfaces to avoid testing. Read about substrate correction procedures on page 7-27. In the first paragraph, read about some of the reasons why high readings may occur when using an XRF Analyzer.
• Read how results should be reported to the lab in Units of Measure on page 7-47.

Final report

• Read about what to include in an inspection report on pages 7-32 to 7-34 in Chapter 7.

Quiz

• Quiz yourself on lead inspections

• On Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Resources for Lead Investigators read about work practice standards and checklists for clearances. Scroll down to lead investigation tools, and select Report templates, self-review checklists, and regulatory updates.
• Wisconsin’s lead regulations include more specific restrictions about who may conduct clearance. In DHS 163, Read about who may conduct clearances in Wisconsin. Also, continue reading about some prohibitions on who may conduct clearances and what they are not permitted to do.
• Read in DHS 163 the protocol when conducting clearances.

Visual Inspection

• Read in DHS 163 about performing a visual inspection of work.
• Read the purposes of a visual inspection in the first and second paragraphs on page 15-17 in Chapter 15.
• Read about the visual assessment for settled dust and debris on page 15-19. In the first paragraph, find out if there should be any evidence of settled dust. Read further in the paragraph, and find out at least three things the clearance examiner should document and tell the contractor if there is visible dust on page 15-19.

Dust Wipe Sampling

• Read when dust wipe sampling should be done on page 15-11 in Chapter 15. Specifically, find out how long an examiner should wait to allow airborne leaded-dust to settle before conducting a clearance.
• Review the table about the minimum number and location of dust samples when conducting clearances on pages 15-27 to 15-28.
• Study this table carefully! On the test, you will be asked to identify the number and location of samples needed based on the clearance category.
• The information in Table 15.1 is in description form under the Clearance Categories on pages 15-25 to 15-26. Read the 4 categories for clearance, which have different standards whether containment was used, the number of rooms, and whether composite or single-surface samples are collected.
• Clearance is achieved when the lab results for certain areas, including interior floors, porches, interior windowsills, and window troughs, are less than certain amounts. Read DHS 163 about clearance standards. The standards, expressed in μg/ft2 and written in a., am., b., and c., are different for the four areas mentioned above. Make sure you know these numbers to prepare for the State exam.
• There are a number of factors that affect the locations and number of samples that need to be collected. The HUD Guidelines and DHS 163 have more information about this process:
• Read in DHS 163 about the clearance protocol, read ‘Location of sampling for work conducted in containment’ and ‘without containment.’ Then, read in DHS 163 about random sampling in multi-family dwellings.

Sample Analysis and Interpretation

• Interpreting lab results should be done by comparing them to the standards in DHS 163.
  • The results are reported in micrograms per square foot (μg/ft2)
    • IMPORTANT!
    • If a dust sample is equal to or exceeds (greater than) the clearance standard, it fails
    • If a dust sample is less than the clearance standard, it passes
  • Practice 1: You collect a dust wipe sample from an interior floor, and the result is 8 μg/ft2. Would clearance pass or fail? Check the correct answer in the Answer Key below.
  • Practice 2: You collect a dust wipe sample from an interior windowsill, and the result is 105 μg/ft2. Would clearance pass or fail? Check the correct answer in the Answer Key below.

Reporting

• A clearance examiner is required to submit a report following clearance activities for abatement projects. Read DHS 163 to learn about when the clearance report is due and which information to include.
• The HUD Guidelines show what to include in a clearance report:
  • Read X. Report Preparation on pages 15-42 to 15-43 in Chapter 15 to learn what to include in the summary report and other regulatory report requirements.
  • Also, read DHS’s work practice standards and checklists for clearances in Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Resources for Lead Investigators

Answer Key

• Practice 1 Answer: 8 μg/ft2 for an interior floor passes clearance because it is less than 10 μg/ft2. In other words, the level of lead dust is below the clearance standard for floors.
• Practice 2 Answer: 110 μg/ft2 for an interior windowsill fails clearance because it is equal to or greater than 100 μg/ft2

Quiz

• Quiz yourself on clearance