Lead-paint safety tips for do-it-yourself projects

Getting the lead out

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule requires safeguards when working on buildings that have lead paint, but it doesn’t apply to do-it-yourselfers. Still, there are steps you can take when doing projects at your home, especially if it was built before U.S. regulators banned lead paint in 1978.

PRECAUTIONS

• Cover floors with durable plastic sheeting.

• If working on a larger job, construct dust-containing doors by covering each entry to the work area with two layers of plastic sheeting: One should be taped along all four edges and cut down the middle. The other should be taped only along the top, to act as a flap covering the slit in the first layer.

• Remove all furniture, rugs, curtains, food, clothing and other household items until cleanup after the project is complete.

• Items that can’t be removed from the work area should be tightly wrapped with plastic sheeting and sealed with tape.

• Turn off heating and air-conditioning systems. Cover vents with plastic sheeting, and tape the sheeting in place.

• Keep all windows in the work area closed.

• When disturbing paint with hand or power tools, spray water on lead-painted surfaces to keep dust from spreading.

RESOURCES

• To find a lead-certified renovation firm in your area, visit https://www.epa.gov/region9/toxic/lead/firms.html or cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm.

• For information about testing your home for lead-based paint and potential lead hazards, see https://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadtest.pdf or call the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-5323.

• For information about lead-dust dangers and how dust spreads, watch the EPA’s video “A Little Dust Goes a Long Way” at https://www.healthyhomestraining.org/rrp/Videos.htm.

• For information about lead exposure and how to protect children from it, visit https://www.leadfreekids.org (also available in Spanish at https://www.leadfreekids.org/espanol) or call (800) 424-5323.

Sources: National Center for Healthy Housing, Times research