HUD Health & Safety Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to HUD guidelines, what blood lead level (BLL) in a child under 6 triggers mandatory action under the Lead Safe Housing Rule?
- 5 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) (Correct answer)
- 10 ug/dL
- 15 ug/dL
- 20 ug/dL
Correct answer: 5 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL)
HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule requires action when a child under 6 in a HUD-assisted property has a blood lead level at or above 5 ug/dL, following the CDC reference value.
HUD updated its Lead Safe Housing Rule to align with the CDC reference value of 5 ug/dL for elevated blood lead levels in children under 6. When a child in a covered HUD-assisted property tests at or above this level, the housing owner must conduct an environmental investigation and remediate identified lead hazards. This threshold was lowered from the previous 10 ug/dL level to reflect current scientific understanding of lead's health effects.
Question 2: What does the HUD/EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home' require landlords to provide?
- Only to buyers of pre-1978 homes
- To renters and buyers of pre-1978 target housing before contract signing (Correct answer)
- To all renters regardless of home age
- Only when lead paint is confirmed present
Correct answer: To renters and buyers of pre-1978 target housing before contract signing
Under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, landlords and sellers of pre-1978 housing must provide the EPA/HUD lead hazard information pamphlet before signing leases or contracts.
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X) requires that before signing a lease or sales contract for target housing (residential dwellings built before 1978), landlords and sellers must provide the HUD/EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home,' disclose known lead-based paint and hazards, and provide available lead hazard inspection reports. This applies regardless of whether lead paint is confirmed—disclosure is required if the property was built before 1978.
Question 3: Under HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule, which work practice standard must be followed when conducting lead hazard reduction in federally assisted housing?
- EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule only
- HUD's lead-safe work practices, which are generally more protective than RRP (Correct answer)
- Local building codes only
- No specific work practice standard is required
Correct answer: HUD's lead-safe work practices, which are generally more protective than RRP
HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule requires lead-safe work practices that are generally equivalent to or more protective than EPA's RRP rule, including safe work methods, cleanup, and waste disposal.
HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR Part 35) requires safe work practices when performing lead hazard reduction activities in federally assisted housing. These practices include containing work areas, using HEPA vacuums for cleanup, wet methods to minimize dust, and proper waste disposal. HUD's standards are generally at least as protective as EPA's RRP rule. The combination of HUD and EPA requirements provides comprehensive protection in federal housing programs.
Question 4: A HUD housing inspector tests for carbon monoxide (CO) and finds a reading of 35 ppm in a living area. What should the inspector do?
- Document it as acceptable since it is below the OSHA 8-hour limit of 50 ppm
- Flag it as a hazardous condition requiring immediate investigation of the CO source (Correct answer)
- Note it for follow-up at the next annual inspection
- Only act if the reading exceeds 200 ppm
Correct answer: Flag it as a hazardous condition requiring immediate investigation of the CO source
Any detectable CO level above background in a living area warrants investigation. EPA guidelines treat CO levels above 9 ppm in living spaces as a health concern requiring source identification and correction.
The EPA recommends that CO levels in living spaces should not exceed 9 ppm averaged over 8 hours. Any reading above background levels (typically 0-2 ppm indoors) warrants investigation. A reading of 35 ppm in a living area is a significant health concern and the inspector should flag it as requiring immediate investigation of potential CO sources (fuel-burning appliances, blocked flues, idling vehicles). OSHA's 50 ppm limit applies to occupational settings, not residential living spaces.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'clearance examination' in the context of lead hazard reduction?
- A medical examination of residents after lead abatement
- A post-abatement dust wipe sampling test to confirm lead dust levels meet clearance standards (Correct answer)
- A visual inspection confirming all lead paint has been removed
- A blood test for workers who performed lead abatement
Correct answer: A post-abatement dust wipe sampling test to confirm lead dust levels meet clearance standards
A clearance examination is conducted by a certified inspector or risk assessor after lead hazard reduction to verify through dust wipe sampling that lead dust levels meet HUD's clearance standards.
After lead hazard reduction activities, a clearance examination must be performed by a certified inspector or risk assessor. This involves visual assessment followed by dust wipe sampling from floors, window sills, and window wells. The samples are analyzed by a certified laboratory, and the unit can only be reoccupied if lead dust levels are below clearance standards: 10 ug/ft2 for floors, 100 ug/ft2 for window sills, and 400 ug/ft2 for window wells under HUD's current standards.
Question 6: Under HQS health and safety standards, what type of heating system deficiency is considered life-threatening?
- A thermostat that does not maintain exact temperature settings
- A furnace that cannot maintain 65F (18C) during cold weather (Correct answer)
- A radiator that makes noise when operating
- A heating system older than 20 years
Correct answer: A furnace that cannot maintain 65F (18C) during cold weather
An inadequate heating system that cannot maintain at least 65F in the unit during cold weather is considered a life-threatening HQS deficiency requiring correction within 24 hours.
HQS requires that the heating system be capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 65F (18.3C) in all habitable rooms when outside temperatures are at the local design temperature. Failure to provide adequate heat during cold weather is classified as a life-threatening HQS deficiency requiring correction within 24 hours. Age of the heating system alone is not a deficiency—it must be evaluated on its ability to perform safely and adequately.
HUD Health & Safety Evaluation 2
According to HUD guidelines, what blood lead level (BLL) in a child under 6 triggers mandatory action under the Lead Safe Housing Rule?