What Lurks Beneath the Paint: A Hygienist's Take on Working with Lead pt 2
Our first part, in this 3-part look at what lurks beneath the paint, introduced us to lead paint. Read more of the lessons drawn from industry documents and standards.
HS034: How to Actually Identify Lead Paint
"Identifying Lead in Paint: A Guide to Surveying and Testing" (HS034) walks you through the detective work. You don’t always need a lab — but you do need a process.
Three-steps I live by:
- Assume lead is present in anything pre-1980.
- Use XRF or chemical spot tests to screen.
- Confirm with lab analysis if you need hard data (e.g., for waste classification or legal thresholds).
At a listed library with decorative plasterwork, we picked up hotspots with XRF and confirmed serious lead content in deeper layers. That insight allowed us to
encapsulate instead of strip — less risk, less cost, fewer headaches.
FAQs on-site:
Q: Is XRF enough?
A: Great for screening, especially on large sites. But for legal clarity or waste decisions, lab confirmation is still best.
Q: Is lead paint still legal?
A Not in general use. Very limited exemptions apply (e.g. heritage, military).
See the final instalment to find what the gold standard for lead paint removal is?
OUR EXPERT
Tomas Gabor
0800 433 7914
Tomas Gabor is a seasoned Industrial Hygienist with a sharp eye for what most people overlook - especially when it comes to legacy hazards like lead. With over a decade of experience across heritage buildings, public sector housing, and industrial infrastructure, Tomas specialises in exposure assessments that bridge regulatory compliance and practical risk management.
He's not just a clipboard-and-data kind of hygienist - Tomas is often on-site, working alongside contractors to catch risks before they become incidents. His writing combines technical expertise with stories from the field, helping consultants, site managers, and decision-makers make safer, more informed choices.
In "What Lurks Beneath the Paint," Tomas shares lessons from real jobs and trusted guidance from the British Coatings Federation to shed light on one of the UK's most underestimated hazards: lead paint.
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