Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Model Lead Based Paint Risk Assessor Practice Test

What should you do when taking a paint chip sample if the paint falls on plastic?

1. Ignore the fallen paint

2. Store it in a separate container

3. Add it to the sample

4. Record the incident in a log

The correct answer is: Add it to the sample

When taking a paint chip sample, if paint falls onto plastic, it is crucial to include it in the sample for a few reasons. First, the paint chip that has fallen represents a part of the material that could be analyzed for lead content or other potential hazards. By adding the fallen paint to the sample, you ensure that the analysis reflects all the paint materials present in that area, providing a more accurate assessment of lead exposure risk. In risk assessment practices, every piece of potentially hazardous material must be accounted for to guarantee comprehensive testing results. Omitting any part of the sample could lead to an underestimation of the risks posed by lead-based paint, thereby undermining the purpose of the sampling process. In contrast, simply ignoring the fallen paint fails to take into account all potential sources of lead exposure. Storing it in a separate container may create confusion during analysis regarding which samples belong together and could complicate the interpretation of results. Recording the incident in a log is important for documentation but does not directly contribute to the physical assessment of lead hazards at the site. Thus, adding the fallen paint chip to the sample is the correct and most effective course of action.