Asbestos & Lead Awareness Protocol

Purpose

Ensure Spartan Plumbing technicians can recognize and safely respond to potential asbestos and lead hazards in older homes, particularly those built before 1980.

When to Use

• Working in any home built before 1980
• Cutting, drilling, or disturbing pipe insulation, floor tiles, ductwork, or wall materials in older homes
• When you suspect you have encountered asbestos-containing material or lead paint
• During demolition or removal of old piping, fixtures, or building materials

Identifying Potential Hazards

Asbestos

• Common in homes built before 1980: pipe insulation (white/gray wrapping), floor tiles (9x9 inch tiles), ductwork insulation, boiler insulation
• Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed (cut, broken, sanded, scraped) — intact materials are generally safe
• You CANNOT identify asbestos by sight alone — if in doubt, treat it as asbestos

Lead

• Lead paint is common in homes built before 1978
• Lead solder was used in copper plumbing before 1986
• Lead exposure occurs through dust, fumes (from soldering), or ingestion

Procedure

If You Suspect Asbestos

STOP WORK immediately — do not cut, drill, or disturb the material

Do not vacuum or sweep suspected asbestos debris — this disperses fibers

If you have already disturbed it, leave the area and close the door

Call your supervisor and explain what you found

Inform the homeowner that suspect material was found

Spartan technicians are NOT certified for asbestos removal — a licensed abatement contractor must handle it

Document with photos (without disturbing the material further)

If You Suspect Lead

Avoid sanding, scraping, or disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes

When soldering in older homes, ensure ventilation — lead solder fumes are hazardous

Wash hands thoroughly after working with old piping or solder joints

If removing old galvanized or lead pipes, wear gloves and wash exposed skin after

Customer Communication

If asbestos or lead is suspected, be honest with the customer but do not diagnose it — say: "This material may contain asbestos/lead. We recommend having it tested before we continue work in this area."

Recommend they contact a certified testing company

Do not alarm the customer unnecessarily — intact materials are generally safe

Important Notes

• Spartan Plumbing does not perform asbestos testing or removal — we identify and refer
• Ohio requires licensed contractors for asbestos abatement — this is not optional
• In renovations involving pre-1978 homes, EPA's RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) rule may apply
• When in doubt, stop work and ask — it is better to delay a job than to expose yourself or a customer

Related SOPs

• Chemical Handling & Storage — general chemical safety
• PPE Requirements — respiratory protection when warranted
• Confined Space Entry Procedures — asbestos risk in crawlspaces