Stratton Home Improvement and Repair L.L.C., Michigan Operations ~ Lead Abatement






		Lead Abatement Stratton Home Improvement & Repair, LLC has satisfactorily met the requirements of the Michigan Lead Abatement Act of 1998 and is recognized as a Certified Lead Abatement Contractor - Contractor number C-309. A certified lead abatement contractor is a company that can treat or remove lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in order to make the property lead-safe for young children and other occupants. A few of the most common sources of lead exposure to children. Lead-based paint continues to be the largest source of lead exposure for children. Past uses of lead in paint, gasoline, and other substances continues to contaminate children's environments through the deterioration of lead-based paint and other sources into dust. Drinking water can also contain high concentrations of lead from lead-containing pipes and solder. Lead in food continues to be a source of exposure, due to imported lead-soldered cans, and the use of food additives and folk remedies containing lead. Many occupations and hobbies can also create lead exposures to children What You Can Expect from a State-Certified Lead Abatement Company What is Abatement? According to Michigan’s lead laws (MCL 333.5451-5477) abatement means an activity designed to permanently eliminate lead paint hazards. Abatement includes any of the following: The removal of lead paint and lead-contaminated dust; the permanent enclosure (barrier) or encapsulation (special paint coating) of lead paint; the replacement of lead-painted surfaces or fixtures; the removal or covering of lead-contaminated soil; and any preparation, cleanup, disposal, and post-abatement clearance testing associated with these activities. A project for which there is a contract indicating that a company will be performing work on a housing unit, day care center, preschool, or kindergarten that is designed to permanently remove lead paint hazards. A project resulting in the permanent removal of lead paint hazards, conducted by a certified abatement company. A project resulting in the permanent removal of lead paint hazards, conducted by a company who, through its name or promotional literature, represents, or advertises to be in the business of performing lead paint activities. A project resulting in the permanent removal of lead paint hazards that is conducted in response to a state or local government lead abatement order, as in the case of a lead poisoned child. Who Can Perform Abatement Activities in Michigan? Only an individual certified by the Department of Community Health as an Abatement Supervisor or Abatement Worker who is working for a certified abatement company can perform abatement activities. A person should be able to present a card from the Lead Hazard Remediation Program indicating that he or she is certified as an Abatement Supervisor or Abatement Worker. The card shows the expiration date of the certification. An Abatement Supervisor is required for each abatement project, and must be at the project site while all abatement work is being set up, performed, and cleared. It is the responsibility of the Abatement Supervisor and the employing company to ensure that all abatement activities are performed within the requirements of state, federal and local laws. The Abatement Supervisor must create a written occupant protection plan for all abatement projects according to the following: The occupant protection plan must be specific to each housing unit, day care center, preschool or kindergarten class, and be created before the abatement project begins. The occupant protection plan must describe what will happen during the abatement project to protect the occupants from exposure to any lead paint hazards. The occupant protection plan must be provided to the occupants prior to the start date of the abatement project. Containment of the Work Area Containment of the work area is a very important process of the abatement job. It ensures that lead dust does not move into other areas of the building. Containment is the process of sealing clear plastic sheeting over all doorways, air ducts, furniture and other areas in a room or work space. Containment must remain intact during the project and until after clearance dust testing is completed within and outside of the abatement work area. What is Clearance Testing, Why is it Required, and How is it Done? According to Michigan’s lead laws, dust clearance testing is required after any abatement activity is completed on the interior of a housing unit or childcare building. Dust is tested from specific places to ensure that abatement activities have not created lead dust hazards that can poison young children, other occupants or pets living in the building. Test results are then compared with standard clearance lead levels listed in Table I, which are considered to be safe for reoccupation. Only a certified Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor can perform clearance testing after abatement projects are completed. Certified Clearance Technicians cannot clear abatement projects at this time, but they can clear renovation and remodeling projects. Only a certified Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor who is completely independent of the abatement company and project workers can perform clearance testing. A visual inspection is performed first to determine if deteriorated painted surfaces or visible dust, debris, or residue is still present. If any of these are present, the Abatement Supervisor must make certain that these conditions are fixed before continuing clearance procedures. After the visual inspection and any post-abatement cleanup that may be needed, the Lead Inspector or Risk Assessor must perform clearance lead sampling for dust and soil (if needed). Clearance should be done based upon how the abatement activities were conducted on the property. All of the following apply to clearance sampling: After performing an abatement project within a containment area of 4 or more areas (rooms, hallways and stairwells), the individual must take, at a minimum, dust samples from 1 window (if available) and 1 floor location in 4 or more areas (rooms, hallways and stairwells) inside the containment. In addition, 1 dust sample must be taken from the floor outside the containment area. If the containment area is made up of 3 areas (rooms, hallways and stairwells) or less, the individual must take, at a minimum, dust samples from 1 window (if available) and 1 floor location of each of the 3 areas. After performing an abatement with no containment, the individual must take, at a minimum, dust samples from 1 window (if available) and 1 floor location of 4 or more areas (rooms, hallways and stairwells) selected within the whole housing unit. If the unit has only 3 areas (rooms, hallways and stairwells) or less, the individual must take, at a minimum, dust samples from 1 window (if available) and 1 floor location of each of the 3 areas. The individual must take dust samples for clearance using standard lead sampling methods or instructions. The individual must take dust samples for clearance a minimum of 1 hour after final postabatement cleanup activities are completed. The individual must select the rooms, hallways, or stairwells for sampling using standard lead sampling methods or instructions. The individual must compare the dust sample results from the laboratory with state-approved clearance levels for lead in dust on floors and windows. If the dust sample results are above the clearance levels, then the abatement company must clean, and the individual must retest all the areas where the dust sample results were higher than the clearance levels. This must be done until the dust sample results are under the clearance levels. Immediately following an exterior paint abatement, the Abatement Supervisor must conduct a visual inspection of the outdoor area closest to the abated surfaces to ensure that visible dust and debris have been removed. The visual inspection includes looking for any paint chips on the dripline or next to the foundation below any exterior surface abated. If paint chips are present, the abatement company must remove the chips and debris from the site and properly dispose of them. No dust clearance testing is required for abatement projects on the exterior of a building. Clearance dust samples must be analyzed for lead by a laboratory approved by the EPA.