What should you do if dust wipes fail during a lead inspection?

When dust wipes fail during a lead inspection, resampling from surfaces that were not previously sampled is important because it allows for the identification of potential lead dust contamination on other surfaces that may not have been effectively assessed in the initial round of sampling. By examining different surfaces, you can gather more comprehensive data about the presence of lead dust in the environment, which is crucial for ensuring safety and compliance with health standards.

In situations where dust wipe samples do not yield the expected results or fail due to contamination or improper collection, focusing your efforts on untouched surfaces increases the likelihood of detecting lead dust where it may be present. This approach contributes to a more accurate risk assessment and informs necessary remediation steps if lead is found.

Resampling from the same surface would not provide new information, as it does not address the possibility of other surfaces being contaminated. Taking a blank sample alone would not help in determining lead presence, as it merely serves as a control rather than assessing the actual conditions of the surfaces being tested. Therefore, resampling surfaces that were not originally assessed is the most effective action to take in this scenario.