Good Morning! Course Overview US EPA Lead Risk Assessor Course - PDF document

Good Morning! Course Overview US EPA Lead Risk Assessor Course Overview • At the end of this course, students should be able to: – define lead-based paint risk assessment – follow the steps in the EPA & HUD lead based paint risk assessment protocol Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 1

Course Overview Key Definitions – Risk Assessment: An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling for LBP hazards – Inspection: A surface by surface investigation for determining the presence of LBP (sometimes lead in dust/soil) and reporting the results Course Overview Key Definitions – LBP Hazard: lead-contaminated dust, lead- contaminated soil, deteriorated LBP or from LBP present on accessible, friction or impact surfaces – Lead-based Paint (LBP): Any paint, varnish, shellac or other coating that contains lead >/= 1.0mg/cm2 or 0.5%by weight Course Overview Key Definitions – Primary Prevention: LBP risk assessments and/or inspections followed by abatement and/or interim controls in housing before children are exposed – Secondary Prevention: Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already have elevated blood lead levels (EBLs) Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 2

Introduction US EPA Lead Risk Assessor Legislative Basis for LBP Risk Assessments • Major Purposes of Title X – Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning – Re-orient national approach emphasizing LBP hazards – Build national infrastructure to eliminate LBP hazards in housing – Establish a workable framework for LBP hazard control Title X: An Exposure- Oriented Mandate • A risk assessor needs to know – condition of paint – various exposure pathways (i.e. dust/soil) – likely sources of exposure – future plans for the dwelling Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 1

History of LBP Risk Assessment • Emerged in response to an insurance problem in the nations public housing • Congress required all housing authorities to inspect pre-1978 family dwellings by 12/94 – if LBP present, abatement req’d History of LBP Risk Assessment • However: – No Deadline given for abatement – No abatement funds were available except through the modernization program So, PHAs & IHAs had reports identifying “hazards” but no ability to do anything History of LBP Risk Assessment • HARRG*provided LBP insurance but only if housing authorities could manage the immediate risk by controlling exposure • required to complete risk assessments and appropriate controls, thus any future EBLs were likely poisoned from another source *Housing Authority Risk Retention Group Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 2

History of LBP Risk Assessment • HARRGs response to LPB in public housing meant that: • the authority has substantive defense against lawsuits • lead-safe housing created in the short-term • LBP problem became manageable History of LBP Risk Assessment • Title X also indicates that risk assessment and/or inspections will be carried out through a number of federally assisted housing programs (i.e. Section 1012) History of LBP Risk Assessment • HUD published risk assessment protocol in 1990 (derived in part from HARRGs) • HUDs protocol has been modified and updated (Ch.5 HUD Guidelines) – provides more detailed guidance specific to the private sector Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 3

Traditional Definition of Risk Assessment • Typical definition of ”risk • Hazard assessment” is a identification quantification of the • dose-response health effects of assessment exposure to hazardous material of individuals or • exposure populations developed by assessment conducting: • risk characterization Title X Definition of Risk Assessment • TSCA Title IV provides that the objective of a risk assessment is to determine and then report the: • existence • nature • severity • location of LBP hazards, and • options to control the hazards Risk Assessors work with Other Professionals • Risk Assessors must also provide some advice on: • how an owner can solve problems identified • cost estimate of each solution • There are several other professionals the risk assessor may deal with while providing services to the owner Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 4

Different Forms of Hazard Evaluation • Risk Assessments – determine the immediately available sources of lead – help the owner design a mixture of long and/or short-term responses Different Forms of Hazard Evaluation • LBP inspections – do not identify hazards, measure exposure or suggest solutions – often performed by technicians, and – do not help owner design a hazard control plan Different Forms of Hazard Evaluation • Poisoned Child Investigation (EBL/EIBLL) – neither an inspection nor a risk assessment, is designed to investigate the causes of poisoning in the home of a child with an EBL Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 5

Different Forms of Hazard Evaluation • Many health departments have established EIBLL procedures so coordination is crucial to avoid: – duplication of effort – confusion on the part of the residents and/or owner – interference with health department jurisdiction Different Forms of Hazard Evaluation • Inspections • Risk Assessments – measure the – measure the level of concentration of lead lead in dust, soil & in paint on a surface deteriorated paint by surface basis – identify the location & – identify the presence severity of all hazards of LBP on all – consider information components about past mgmt & – allow the owner to maint. Practices avoid treating paint – allow owner to treat all that is not LBP lead hazards present Special Approaches • Lead Hazard Screen – type of risk assessment applicable to housing in good condition – more limited sampling than full risk assessment – more stringent criteria Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 6

Special Approaches • Bypass Hazard Identification – skip the initial hazard identification step & control suspected or assumed hazards – risk assessor may be asked to determine if all LBP hazards have been control;led after work is completed. – Clearance sampling to check clean-up effectiveness Special Approaches • Reevaluations – needed in dwellings where LBP remains or is suspected to remain – not needed in dwellings in which owners or managers have established that hazards are unlikely to appear (more information in Section 12 “Ongoing Monitoring” Special Approaches • Combination Risk Assessment/Inspection – determines both presence of LBP and LBP hazards • Clearance – Performed after all hazard control activities Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 7

The Risk Assessment Process Seven Major Steps 1. Determine the most appropriate evaluation tool 2. Obtain background information 3. Schedule the evaluation 4. Conduct the evaluation 5. Determine the actual hazards 6. Provide guidance for reducing/eliminating hazards 7. Produce a written report Why an Owner wants a LBP evaluation • Regulations requires it • Parents of lead-poisoned child • Sale of building • Owner is sued by a poisoned resident • Insurance company wants it Good Practices • Good Public Health Practices – LBP hazards are a public health, housing and environmental problem – options should be based on owners’ needs & financial resources – LBP hazards more common in low- income housing Do not suggest services that will raise the cost of housing or cause owners to abandon the effort to identify & remedy LBP Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 8

Good Practices • Good Public Health Practices – Tailor services offered to the client – Ultimately, owners bear the responsibility for the condition of a property Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 9

Preliminary Contact with the Dwelling Owner Preliminary Contact with the Dwelling Owner • Initial Responsibility of the Risk Assessor – Informing the Owner of the Evaluation Options • Combination risk Assessment/inspection • Full paint inspection • Full risk assessment • Lead Hazard Screen • EBL Investigation Preliminary Contact with the Dwelling Owner • Primary Factors influencing decision – Motivation for having a lead evaluation conducted – Likelihood of discovering a hazard – Likely hazard control options – Financial Resources – Future plans for the building Environmental Education Associates, Inc. USEPA Lead Risk Assessor Initial Course Presentation 1