Lead paint

[WhatChoiceNow]

We are in a Victorian house. We just paid for the bay window of our livingroom to be refurbished.
The decorator used a sander and we have come home to a thin layer of dust throughout the house. It’s testing positive for lead.

what should we do now to clean up?
It seems he did very little to minimise dust or its spread beyond the room. Should the decorator have known better?

thanks for any advice.

Not good. Bit of a rookie error tbh, to let it spread all over the house is really poor.
Tricky one as if they’ve been that crap in the first place I’d be wary of getting them to rectify ie hoover.

Perhaps insist they hoover the house, but then once they’re done, go over the whole thing again yourself? You’ll need the right mask (ffp3?) and a set of overalls and eye protection ideally. Thoroughly air through while all this is being done too.

Have you informed him? You should have tested before getting work done, not after!
You need to mist all dust with a water sprayer and wipe it up with damp disposable cloths. Double bag all cloths and check local council guidance for disposal. Don’t sweep so you don’t swish it all about, mop. You will have to mist spray any new appearing dust daily and mop daily with disposable mops like a Flash speed mop one with disposable wipes.

The hoover needs a HEPA Filter

To clean lead paint sanding dust in the UK, use a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, wet-wipe surfaces, and dispose of all debris as hazardous waste in a sealed, heavy-duty plastic bag. Never dry sweep or blow dust, and ensure all used materials are sealed in bags for disposal by an approved service.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Face Mask: Wear a suitable face mask to protect against lead-containing dust.

Gloves: Wear gloves, as lead can get under fingernails.

Coveralls: Use disposable paper coveralls to protect your clothes.

Cleaning the Work Area
Contain the Area: Seal off the room with plastic sheeting to prevent dust from spreading.

Wet-Wipe Surfaces: Dampen cloths and use them to wipe down all surfaces. Do not use dry cloths.

Vacuum Thoroughly: Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove any remaining dust from surfaces and the floor.

Mop: Wet-mop floors to pick up any remaining fine particles.

Do Not Sweep: Avoid using a broom, as it will stir up dust.

Waste Disposal

Bag Debris: Place all debris, including cloths, dust, and used abrasive paper, into a heavy-duty plastic bag.
Seal the Bag: Seal the bag tightly to prevent any dust from escaping.
Dispose of as Hazardous Waste: The bag must be disposed of as hazardous waste by an approved hazardous waste disposal service.
Important Considerations
Work Safely: Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in the work area.

Wash Items Separately: Wash any clothing worn during the process separately from other laundry.

Test for Lead: Test paint with a home test kit or by sending a sample to a lab to confirm the presence of lead paint.

Thank you very much for the replies.
I’m planning to speak to the Council tomorrow so if they say anything noteworthy I will feedback.
As they say, a stitch in time saves nine. This is now an almighty pain in the neck.
Thank you all again.