Loose lead particles should be removed from protective clothing through careful procedures to prevent dispersing lead dust into the environment or onto the worker. The recommended steps are:
- Remove protective clothing in a designated decontamination area away from clean spaces, using plastic sheeting to catch falling particles
- Wear disposable gloves during removal and avoid shaking, brushing, or blowing the clothing to prevent airborne contamination
- Fold the clothing inward to trap particles and place it into sealed plastic bags clearly labeled as lead-contaminated for laundering or disposal
- Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to clean the area where clothing was removed and to remove loose particles from the clothing surface before removal
- After vacuuming, wipe down surfaces with wet wipes designed for lead removal to capture remaining particles
- Wash lead-contaminated clothing separately using hot water and appropriate detergents if laundering is done; otherwise, dispose of heavily contaminated clothing safely
- Workers must not leave the worksite wearing lead-contaminated clothing or equipment to avoid spreading contamination outside the work area
These procedures minimize lead exposure risk by containing and removing lead dust safely from protective clothing and the work environment
