EPA LEAD INSPECTOR EXAM AND ACTUAL EXAM 110
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|AGRADE
Centimeter conversion to meter - ANSWER: Centimeter is 1/100 of a meter
Common area - ANSWER: A room or area that is accessible to residents of more than
one dwelling unit (e.g., hallways or lobbies); in general, any area not kept locked.
Define a "competent person" - ANSWER: As defined in the OSHA Lead Construction
Standard (29 CFR 1926.62), a person who is capable of identifying or predicting
hazardous working conditions and work areas, and who has authorization to take
prompt, corrective measures to eliminate the hazards.
A competent person may also be a risk assessor, inspector, abatement project
supervisor or certified renovator; however, certification on its own does not give a
person the authority to take corrective action, which a competent person must have.
What is a compliance plan? - ANSWER: A document that describes the types of tasks,
workers, protective measures, and tools and other materials that may be employed
in lead-based paint hazard control to comply with the OSHA Lead Exposure in
Construction standard
What is a composite sample? - ANSWER: A single sample made up of individual
subsamples. Analysis of a composite sample produces the arithmetic mean (average)
of all subsamples.
Define containment - ANSWER: A process to protect workers and the environment
by controlling exposures to the lead contaminated dust and debris created during
abatement, interim controls or lead-safe renovation.
Corrected lead concentration - ANSWER: The absolute difference between the
Apparent Lead Concentration and the Substrate Equivalent Lead.
Deciliter (dL) to liter conversion - ANSWER: A deciliter is 1/10 of a liter
What is a digestion blank? - ANSWER: A mixture of the reagents used for digesting of
paint, soil, or dust matrixes but without the matrix. The blank undergoes all the steps
of the analysis, starting with digestion. The blank is used to evaluate the
contamination process from a laboratory
Dripline/foundation area - ANSWER: The area within 3 feet out from the building
wall and surrounding the perimeter of a building.
,Encapsulation - ANSWER: Any covering or coating that acts as a barrier between
lead-based paint and the environment, the durability of which relies on adhesion
and the integrity of the existing bonds between multiple layers of paint and between
the paint and the substrate.
Enclosure - ANSWER: The use of rigid, durable construction materials that are
mechanically fastened to the substrate to act as a barrier between the lead-based
paint and the environment.
What are engineering controls in reference to lead? - ANSWER: Measures other than
respiratory and other personal protection or administrative controls that are
implemented at the worksite to contain, control, and/or otherwise reduce exposure
to lead contaminated dust and debris usually in the occupational health setting. The
measures include process and product substitution, isolation, and ventilation.
Exterior work area is. . . - ANSWER: For lead hazard control work, the exterior work
area includes any exterior building components, such as roofs, exterior walls, the
exterior portions of windows and doors, exterior stairways, fences, and unenclosed
porches and patios; the safety perimeter; and access barriers, where work is being
done, and the pathways and storage areas used to access those components
Field Blank Sample - ANSWER: A clean sample of the matrix (e.g., filter, or wipe) that
has been exposed to the sampling conditions; returned to the laboratory; and
analyzed as an environmental sample. Clean quartz sand, air sampling filters and
cassettes, and clean wipes can be used as field blanks. The field blank, which should
be treated just like the sample, indicates possible sources of contamination.
A HEPA vacuum is. . . - ANSWER: A vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a
HEPA filter (A filter capable of removing particles of 0.3 microns or larger from air at
99.97 percent or greater) as the last filtration stage. The vacuum cleaner must be
designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled through the HEPA
filter with none of the air leaking past it
Indian Housing Agency - ANSWER: An agency within an Indian tribal government that
receives grants and provides assistance (under the United States Housing Act of
1937) for affordable housing activities for Indians.
What is an interim control? - ANSWER: A set of measures designed to temporarily
reduce human exposure or possible exposure to lead-based paint hazards. Such
measures include, but are not limited to, specialized cleaning, repairs, maintenance,
painting, temporary containment, and the establishment and operation of
management and resident education programs.
Monitoring, conducted by owners, and reevaluations, conducted by professionals,
are integral elements of interim control. Interim controls include dust removal; paint
film stabilization; treatment of friction and impact surfaces; installation of soil
coverings, such as grass or sod; and land use controls
, Interior window sill - ANSWER: The portion of the horizontal window ledge that
protrudes into the interior of the room, adjacent to the window sash when the
window is closed; often called the window stool.
What is the importance and process of laboratory analysis for lead? - ANSWER: In
the case of analysis of samples of lead in paint, dust or soil in target housing or pre-
1978 child-occupied facilities, the laboratory must be recognized by NLLAP.
Among the methods used by these laboratories for determining lead content are
atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma emission
spectroscopy (ICP), or laboratory based K or L X-ray fluorescence, or an equivalent
method.
Define "Lead-Containing paint" . . . - ANSWER: As defined by the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, paint or other similar surface coating materials for consumer use
that contain lead or lead compounds and in which the lead content (calculated as
lead metal) is in excess of 0.009 percent by weight of the total nonvolatile content of
the paint or the weight of the dried paint film (see 16 CFR 1303.1(c))
Lead Hazard Screen - ANSWER: A method of determining, in buildings in good
condition, whether they should have a full risk assessment. The screen uses fewer
samples but more stringent evaluation criteria (standards) than regular risk
assessments. Also called a risk assessment screen.
Medical removal - ANSWER: The temporary removal of an employee from the job
because the employee's blood lead level is at or above 50 μg/dL of the occurrence of
an adult "elevated blood lead level" as defined in the OSHA Lead Exposure in
Construction standard
Milligram (mg) to gram conversion - ANSWER: Milligram; 1/1000 of a gram.
µg (or mcg) or Microgram - ANSWER: The prefix micro means 1/1,000,000 (or one-
millionth); a microgram is 1/1,000,000 of a gram and 1/1000 of a milligram; equal to
about 35/1,000,000,000 (35 billionths) of an ounce (an ounce is equal to 28,400,000
mg).
What is lead monitoring? - ANSWER: An organized program of regular surveillance to
determine that:
(1) known or presumed lead-based paint is not deteriorating; (2) lead-based paint
hazard controls, such as paint stabilization, interim control measures for soil,
enclosure, or encapsulation have not failed;
(3) structural problems do not threaten the integrity of hazard controls or of known
or presumed lead based paint, and
(4) dust lead levels have not risen above applicable standards
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|AGRADE
Centimeter conversion to meter - ANSWER: Centimeter is 1/100 of a meter
Common area - ANSWER: A room or area that is accessible to residents of more than
one dwelling unit (e.g., hallways or lobbies); in general, any area not kept locked.
Define a "competent person" - ANSWER: As defined in the OSHA Lead Construction
Standard (29 CFR 1926.62), a person who is capable of identifying or predicting
hazardous working conditions and work areas, and who has authorization to take
prompt, corrective measures to eliminate the hazards.
A competent person may also be a risk assessor, inspector, abatement project
supervisor or certified renovator; however, certification on its own does not give a
person the authority to take corrective action, which a competent person must have.
What is a compliance plan? - ANSWER: A document that describes the types of tasks,
workers, protective measures, and tools and other materials that may be employed
in lead-based paint hazard control to comply with the OSHA Lead Exposure in
Construction standard
What is a composite sample? - ANSWER: A single sample made up of individual
subsamples. Analysis of a composite sample produces the arithmetic mean (average)
of all subsamples.
Define containment - ANSWER: A process to protect workers and the environment
by controlling exposures to the lead contaminated dust and debris created during
abatement, interim controls or lead-safe renovation.
Corrected lead concentration - ANSWER: The absolute difference between the
Apparent Lead Concentration and the Substrate Equivalent Lead.
Deciliter (dL) to liter conversion - ANSWER: A deciliter is 1/10 of a liter
What is a digestion blank? - ANSWER: A mixture of the reagents used for digesting of
paint, soil, or dust matrixes but without the matrix. The blank undergoes all the steps
of the analysis, starting with digestion. The blank is used to evaluate the
contamination process from a laboratory
Dripline/foundation area - ANSWER: The area within 3 feet out from the building
wall and surrounding the perimeter of a building.
,Encapsulation - ANSWER: Any covering or coating that acts as a barrier between
lead-based paint and the environment, the durability of which relies on adhesion
and the integrity of the existing bonds between multiple layers of paint and between
the paint and the substrate.
Enclosure - ANSWER: The use of rigid, durable construction materials that are
mechanically fastened to the substrate to act as a barrier between the lead-based
paint and the environment.
What are engineering controls in reference to lead? - ANSWER: Measures other than
respiratory and other personal protection or administrative controls that are
implemented at the worksite to contain, control, and/or otherwise reduce exposure
to lead contaminated dust and debris usually in the occupational health setting. The
measures include process and product substitution, isolation, and ventilation.
Exterior work area is. . . - ANSWER: For lead hazard control work, the exterior work
area includes any exterior building components, such as roofs, exterior walls, the
exterior portions of windows and doors, exterior stairways, fences, and unenclosed
porches and patios; the safety perimeter; and access barriers, where work is being
done, and the pathways and storage areas used to access those components
Field Blank Sample - ANSWER: A clean sample of the matrix (e.g., filter, or wipe) that
has been exposed to the sampling conditions; returned to the laboratory; and
analyzed as an environmental sample. Clean quartz sand, air sampling filters and
cassettes, and clean wipes can be used as field blanks. The field blank, which should
be treated just like the sample, indicates possible sources of contamination.
A HEPA vacuum is. . . - ANSWER: A vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a
HEPA filter (A filter capable of removing particles of 0.3 microns or larger from air at
99.97 percent or greater) as the last filtration stage. The vacuum cleaner must be
designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled through the HEPA
filter with none of the air leaking past it
Indian Housing Agency - ANSWER: An agency within an Indian tribal government that
receives grants and provides assistance (under the United States Housing Act of
1937) for affordable housing activities for Indians.
What is an interim control? - ANSWER: A set of measures designed to temporarily
reduce human exposure or possible exposure to lead-based paint hazards. Such
measures include, but are not limited to, specialized cleaning, repairs, maintenance,
painting, temporary containment, and the establishment and operation of
management and resident education programs.
Monitoring, conducted by owners, and reevaluations, conducted by professionals,
are integral elements of interim control. Interim controls include dust removal; paint
film stabilization; treatment of friction and impact surfaces; installation of soil
coverings, such as grass or sod; and land use controls
, Interior window sill - ANSWER: The portion of the horizontal window ledge that
protrudes into the interior of the room, adjacent to the window sash when the
window is closed; often called the window stool.
What is the importance and process of laboratory analysis for lead? - ANSWER: In
the case of analysis of samples of lead in paint, dust or soil in target housing or pre-
1978 child-occupied facilities, the laboratory must be recognized by NLLAP.
Among the methods used by these laboratories for determining lead content are
atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma emission
spectroscopy (ICP), or laboratory based K or L X-ray fluorescence, or an equivalent
method.
Define "Lead-Containing paint" . . . - ANSWER: As defined by the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, paint or other similar surface coating materials for consumer use
that contain lead or lead compounds and in which the lead content (calculated as
lead metal) is in excess of 0.009 percent by weight of the total nonvolatile content of
the paint or the weight of the dried paint film (see 16 CFR 1303.1(c))
Lead Hazard Screen - ANSWER: A method of determining, in buildings in good
condition, whether they should have a full risk assessment. The screen uses fewer
samples but more stringent evaluation criteria (standards) than regular risk
assessments. Also called a risk assessment screen.
Medical removal - ANSWER: The temporary removal of an employee from the job
because the employee's blood lead level is at or above 50 μg/dL of the occurrence of
an adult "elevated blood lead level" as defined in the OSHA Lead Exposure in
Construction standard
Milligram (mg) to gram conversion - ANSWER: Milligram; 1/1000 of a gram.
µg (or mcg) or Microgram - ANSWER: The prefix micro means 1/1,000,000 (or one-
millionth); a microgram is 1/1,000,000 of a gram and 1/1000 of a milligram; equal to
about 35/1,000,000,000 (35 billionths) of an ounce (an ounce is equal to 28,400,000
mg).
What is lead monitoring? - ANSWER: An organized program of regular surveillance to
determine that:
(1) known or presumed lead-based paint is not deteriorating; (2) lead-based paint
hazard controls, such as paint stabilization, interim control measures for soil,
enclosure, or encapsulation have not failed;
(3) structural problems do not threaten the integrity of hazard controls or of known
or presumed lead based paint, and
(4) dust lead levels have not risen above applicable standards
