Process or Equipment Modification

The sixth and final OSHA-suggested lead exposure engineering control is process or equipment modification.

Can your workplace institute some of these process or equipment modifications?

• Rather than using a sprayer, substitute brushes or rollers to apply lead paints or lead-containing coatings. (This creates little paint mist, so it decreases inhalation potential.)
• For abrasive blasting operations, use non-silica-containing abrasives like steel or iron shot/grit sand instead of sand. (Shot/grit dust contains a respiratory health hazard called "free silica.")
• If possible, use blasting techniques that create less dust than open-air abrasive blasting. (For example, consider hydro- or wet-blasting using high-pressure water. Or, surround the blast nozzle with a ring of water.)
• When removing lead-based paints from residential housing using a heat gun, use a flameless electrical softener 20 type.
• Use heat guns with electronically controlled temperature settings. (This allows use below 700 ⪚F.)
• Make sure heat guns have various nozzles for various size applications. (This will limit the heated work area's size.)
• For vacuum hoods for abrasive blasting on exterior building surfaces, fit the heads on the blasting nozzle to the substrate configuration. (Then the vacuum effectively collects all debris.)
• Make sure HEPA vacuum cleaners have the right attachments (like various sized brushes, crevice, and angular tools) for unusual surfaces. (This will improve the quality of the HEPA-vacuuming process and reduce the release of lead dust into the air.)

To learn more about Construction Lead Safety visit our Construction Lead Safety Online Training Certification web page.