What is the purpose of a clearance examination?

• A. To determine if the lead abatement, interim controls, or non-abatement lead activities have sufficiently controlled lead hazards or presumed lead hazards
• B. To measure dust levels on a random basis
• C. To assess contractor qualifications
• D. To document project costs

Answer: (A)

After lead hazard control work, you need a verification step to prove the work actually reduced lead dust to safe levels. A clearance examination does exactly that by having a certified inspector collect dust wipe samples from representative surfaces in the treated area and sending them to a lab to measure the amount of lead. The lab results are then compared to predefined clearance criteria established by regulatory authorities. If all samples meet the limits, the space is considered cleared and safe for re-occupancy. If any sample exceeds the limits, additional cleaning is required and another clearance test is performed.

This process focuses on confirming that the hazards have been sufficiently controlled (or presumed controlled) through the completed work, rather than just measuring dust randomly or evaluating contractor qualifications or project costs.