How do you conduct clearance sampling after a failed clearance exam?

• A. Ignore the failed surface and re-test another area.
• B. Must clean the failed surface and any surfaces represented by the failed surfaces until clearance is achieved.
• C. Only re-clean the failed surface and re-test.
• D. Notify the homeowner and proceed with interior decoration.

Answer: (B)

When clearance sampling fails, the core idea is that cleaning must address not just the exact spot that tested high, but all surfaces that could have been affected by the same work. This means you clean the failed surface and any surfaces that were represented by or connected to it—essentially everything that could carry residue from the abatement activity. Only after thorough re-cleaning do you re-test, and you continue this cycle until the clearance criteria are met.

This approach recognizes that lead dust can migrate or settle on nearby surfaces that were part of the same cleanup area, or on surfaces that were touched during the process. By cleaning those related surfaces and then re-testing, you ensure that the entire affected area meets the required standards, not just a single spot.

Why the other options don’t fit: ignoring the failed surface and re-testing somewhere else risks missing residue that’s still present in the originally affected area. Cleaning only the failed surface may miss other surfaces that were contaminated during the work. notifying the homeowner and proceeding with interior decoration is inappropriate until clearance is actually achieved.