EPA Risk Assessor Exam with complete solution
Risk Assessment
An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling for lead-based paint hazards. Risk
assessment includes investigating the age, history, management and maintenance of
the dwelling; conducting a visual assessment, performing limited environmental
sampling, such as dust wipe samples, soil samples, and deteriorated paint samples,
and reporting the results that identify acceptable abatement and interim control
strategies based on specific conditions and the owner's capabilities.
Inspection
A surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-based paint
(and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the results.
Lead-based paint hazard
Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead contaminated dust, lead-
contaminated soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based paint present on
accessible, friction, or impact surfaces would result in adverse human health effects.
Primary Prevention
Lead-based paint risk assessments and/or inspections and abatement and/or interim
controls in housing before children are lead poisoned.
Secondary Prevention
Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already have elevated blood
lead levels.
Tertiary Prevention
Medical treatment/ management of children to prevent acute injuries or death from lead
poisoning.
What was the purpose of Title X legislation? (4)
2-20
What is the historical importance of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group
(HARGG)?
2-20
What's the difference between a lead inspection and a risk assessment?
2-20, 3-5
What are the 7 steps of the Risk Assessment process?
1. Obtain background information
2. Determine the most appropriate evaluation process for the owner's dwelling(s)
3. Schedule the site visit
4. Conduct the evaluation (including visual assessment and environmental sampling)
5. Determine the actual hazards (if any)
6. Identify options for reducing or eliminating these hazards
7. Produce a written report
What are four other types of assessments?
1. Lead hazard screen
2. Combination risk assessment
3. Clearance
4. EBL Child Investigation
Lead Hazard Screen
,2-21
A "negative screen"- a limited set of risk assessment procedures that may act to exempt
a dwelling from the full risk assessment requirements.
Combination Risk Assessment
2-21
EBL Child Investigation
2-21
Title X (199_)
1992. Residential Lead based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
3 Sources of Legal Liability
Statutory law, administrative law, and common law
LBPPPA (19__)
1971 Lead-based Poisoning Prevention Act
Tort Law
Civil "wrong" or breach of a standard behavior or failure to use reasonable care for
which a court orders a monetary remedy called "damages".
Contract Law
Relates to situations in which a person breaks or "breaches" a legally enforceable
written or oral agreement or contract. Court can order remedies like monetary damages.
Name 2 examples of liability under Tort Law:
Negligence
Vicarious Liability
Negligence
Failure to fulfill all of your duties/ failure to exercise the standard of care to which a
reasonable Risk Assessor or contractor would adhere.
Vicarious Liability
Employer is legally responsible for the acts, ommissions and wrongful behavior (torts) of
his/her employees.
Plaintiff needs to prove 4 elements:
1. Act or omission
2. Duty
3. Cause
4. Injury
Indemnification
2-27
What are at least 4 principles risk assessors should follow to avoid legal liability
under tort law?
2-26 E.g. document everything, never say anything is "lead free", say that a risk
assessment only applies to the present status of the property, keep records
Describe at least four important objectives of the initial property owner contact
prior to conducting risk assessment?
3-18
What are the 5 different evaluation options that can be recommended to the
property owner?
, Combination risk assessment/ inspection
Risk assessment
Paint inspection
lead hazard Screen
Investigation for EBL
What are 6 different motivating factors that affect what type of evaluation option
to choose?
3-18 E.g. legal requirement, liability issues, preventative measures, response to a lead
poisoning case
What's the difference between a risk assessment and an EBL child investigation?
3-8, 3-9
T/F: The risk assessor should be involved in the process of selecting a
contractor.
False
How long does visual assessment and sampling take?
45 minutes - 3 hours
T/F: Risk assessors should always go ahead and educate the tenants about lead
poisoning.
False
What are the benefits of preliminary data collection to assist risk assessment?
3-13
Scenario: You arrive on premises and are scheduled to conduct a visual
assessment of the property. Which do you take note of?
1. There are big cracks in the walls.
2. Ceiling is leaking in the bathroom and the kitchen.
3. The window wells are in disrepair- and contain paint chips.
4. Right across the street there's a battery recycling shop.
All of the above
What are the 3 categories of paint film quality?
Intact
Fair
Poor
4-8
T/F: Interior wall has >3 ft2 of deteriorated paint. This is classified as fair
condition.
False. (>2 ft2 is poor)
T/F: 8% of a window sill in the living room is deteriorated. This is classified as
poor condition.
False. (>10% is poor)
T/F: <8 ft2 of an exterior wall is deteriorated. This is classified as intact.
False. (<10 ft^2 is fair)
What are the 5 categories of paint deterioration?
4-9, 4-10
Surface-coat failure
Multi-coat failure
Paint failure revealing unsound substrate or structure
Risk Assessment
An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling for lead-based paint hazards. Risk
assessment includes investigating the age, history, management and maintenance of
the dwelling; conducting a visual assessment, performing limited environmental
sampling, such as dust wipe samples, soil samples, and deteriorated paint samples,
and reporting the results that identify acceptable abatement and interim control
strategies based on specific conditions and the owner's capabilities.
Inspection
A surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-based paint
(and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the results.
Lead-based paint hazard
Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead contaminated dust, lead-
contaminated soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based paint present on
accessible, friction, or impact surfaces would result in adverse human health effects.
Primary Prevention
Lead-based paint risk assessments and/or inspections and abatement and/or interim
controls in housing before children are lead poisoned.
Secondary Prevention
Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already have elevated blood
lead levels.
Tertiary Prevention
Medical treatment/ management of children to prevent acute injuries or death from lead
poisoning.
What was the purpose of Title X legislation? (4)
2-20
What is the historical importance of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group
(HARGG)?
2-20
What's the difference between a lead inspection and a risk assessment?
2-20, 3-5
What are the 7 steps of the Risk Assessment process?
1. Obtain background information
2. Determine the most appropriate evaluation process for the owner's dwelling(s)
3. Schedule the site visit
4. Conduct the evaluation (including visual assessment and environmental sampling)
5. Determine the actual hazards (if any)
6. Identify options for reducing or eliminating these hazards
7. Produce a written report
What are four other types of assessments?
1. Lead hazard screen
2. Combination risk assessment
3. Clearance
4. EBL Child Investigation
Lead Hazard Screen
,2-21
A "negative screen"- a limited set of risk assessment procedures that may act to exempt
a dwelling from the full risk assessment requirements.
Combination Risk Assessment
2-21
EBL Child Investigation
2-21
Title X (199_)
1992. Residential Lead based Paint Hazard Reduction Act
3 Sources of Legal Liability
Statutory law, administrative law, and common law
LBPPPA (19__)
1971 Lead-based Poisoning Prevention Act
Tort Law
Civil "wrong" or breach of a standard behavior or failure to use reasonable care for
which a court orders a monetary remedy called "damages".
Contract Law
Relates to situations in which a person breaks or "breaches" a legally enforceable
written or oral agreement or contract. Court can order remedies like monetary damages.
Name 2 examples of liability under Tort Law:
Negligence
Vicarious Liability
Negligence
Failure to fulfill all of your duties/ failure to exercise the standard of care to which a
reasonable Risk Assessor or contractor would adhere.
Vicarious Liability
Employer is legally responsible for the acts, ommissions and wrongful behavior (torts) of
his/her employees.
Plaintiff needs to prove 4 elements:
1. Act or omission
2. Duty
3. Cause
4. Injury
Indemnification
2-27
What are at least 4 principles risk assessors should follow to avoid legal liability
under tort law?
2-26 E.g. document everything, never say anything is "lead free", say that a risk
assessment only applies to the present status of the property, keep records
Describe at least four important objectives of the initial property owner contact
prior to conducting risk assessment?
3-18
What are the 5 different evaluation options that can be recommended to the
property owner?
, Combination risk assessment/ inspection
Risk assessment
Paint inspection
lead hazard Screen
Investigation for EBL
What are 6 different motivating factors that affect what type of evaluation option
to choose?
3-18 E.g. legal requirement, liability issues, preventative measures, response to a lead
poisoning case
What's the difference between a risk assessment and an EBL child investigation?
3-8, 3-9
T/F: The risk assessor should be involved in the process of selecting a
contractor.
False
How long does visual assessment and sampling take?
45 minutes - 3 hours
T/F: Risk assessors should always go ahead and educate the tenants about lead
poisoning.
False
What are the benefits of preliminary data collection to assist risk assessment?
3-13
Scenario: You arrive on premises and are scheduled to conduct a visual
assessment of the property. Which do you take note of?
1. There are big cracks in the walls.
2. Ceiling is leaking in the bathroom and the kitchen.
3. The window wells are in disrepair- and contain paint chips.
4. Right across the street there's a battery recycling shop.
All of the above
What are the 3 categories of paint film quality?
Intact
Fair
Poor
4-8
T/F: Interior wall has >3 ft2 of deteriorated paint. This is classified as fair
condition.
False. (>2 ft2 is poor)
T/F: 8% of a window sill in the living room is deteriorated. This is classified as
poor condition.
False. (>10% is poor)
T/F: <8 ft2 of an exterior wall is deteriorated. This is classified as intact.
False. (<10 ft^2 is fair)
What are the 5 categories of paint deterioration?
4-9, 4-10
Surface-coat failure
Multi-coat failure
Paint failure revealing unsound substrate or structure
