Monday, November 26, 2018

7 Critical Procedures For Lead Abatement Chicago

By Matthew Sanders


Heavy metals have been a big problem for the environment in most states. This is because there have not been effective strategies to get rid of this metal. Lead abatement Chicago practices, for instance, have aroused complex issues. There are many ways that a subcontractor can avoid this heavy metal and meet the OSHA standards. This guide will thus provide you with information about common practices to abate this heavy metal. Nevertheless, this article will not capture every scope of work as it is a simple guideline. The procedure is as follows.

Assessment should always be the first thing to do. If a building has been suspected to contain this metal, it should be assessed first. This will help the workers and occupants to avoid the risks that are associated with the metal. Therefore, prior to anything else, the suspected building should be assessed using the appropriate procedures to determine whether it contains the metal.

After that, you should start monitoring and sampling. Generally, the buildings that were built after 1978 are assumed to be free of this metal. The buildings that were built before this year must thus be assessed in case it is suspected that the building contains paint with the metal. Then, monitoring and sampling should follow to determine whether the structure contains this metal indeed. This can be done by inspecting the paint visually, testing the soil for contamination, testing the windows, floors, etc.

After that, exposure monitoring has to be performed. In case the building was not assessed previously, the assessment can be done. If it was evaluated before, the report is used to check if there is a need to reassess the building. In case there is a need for additional assessment, personal exposure should be conducted as well.

More so, all the workers that are exposed to the heavy metal due to their occupation, medical monitoring should be done. This is to make sure that these workers are not affected. These employees should thus ensure that they have visited a doctor to have their blood tested and analyzed. The tests are done when the subcontractor agrees, and they are carried out at a health center available locally.

In addition to that, the subcontractor must be careful not to expose themselves to the metal. Although the airborne contents may be low, it is still imperative to have effective personal hygiene practices. For instance, the subcontractors are not supposed to eat, drink, smoke or apply any cosmetics at the work sites where the metal is being disturbed.

More so, the workers should make sure that they protect their respiratory system. Hence, they should have respiratory protective equipment in case the atmosphere may have elevated levels of heavy metal. OSHA requires that all the subcontractors practice respiratory protection techniques to avoid future problems.

Additionally, the building occupants must be protected from the effects of the metal. In case construction work is ongoing in a building where tenants live, the contractors should be very cautious. Hence, when disturbing the metal, there should be protective measures put in place to protect the tenants.




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