What action should be considered if initial clearance fails?

When initial clearance fails, repeating the cleaning is the appropriate action to consider. This is because failing initial clearance indicates that lead levels remain above acceptable limits, which poses health risks to occupants and workers. By repeating the cleaning, you can ensure that the affected areas are adequately addressed, and that proper lead abatement procedures have been followed effectively to eliminate lead dust or paint debris.

After the cleaning process is repeated, it is crucial to conduct another clearance test to verify that lead levels have been sufficiently reduced to meet safety regulations or standards. This step is essential in ensuring the safety of the environment before occupancy is allowed. It secures not just compliance with regulations, but also protects public health, aligning with the ultimate goal of lead abatement efforts.

While terminating the contractor or notifying local authorities are potential responses in some situations, the primary immediate step after a failed clearance is to address the clearance criteria through additional cleaning. Ignoring the warning signs and proceeding would neglect the safety implications and could lead to serious consequences for health and compliance.