If dust wipes fail, who is responsible for recleaning the unit and common areas?

When dust wipes fail following deleading activities, the responsibility for recleaning the unit and common areas falls to the last authorized person who performed the deleading work. This is because that individual has the requisite knowledge and experience to address any deficiencies that may have led to the failure in the dust wipe samples. They are held accountable for ensuring that the work meets the required safety and cleanliness standards established by regulations.

This responsibility is rooted in the principle that the party who performed the work is best equipped to correct any issues related to their work, including contaminants that were not adequately managed during the deleading process. By holding the last authorized person accountable, it ensures that proper remediation measures are taken promptly, thereby reducing the risk of lead exposure to occupants and increasing the safety of the environment.

In contrast, the role of other parties, such as property owners or cleaning services, does not specifically entail the responsibility to reclean after a failure, unless agreed upon or specified in contracts or regulations. The lead inspector’s primary role is to assess and report the presence of lead hazards, rather than to take corrective actions after inspection. Each of these roles is important, but the direct accountability for remediating failure in dust wipe tests lies primarily with the individual who conducted the dele