Important Safety Instructions
Read These Instructions.
WARNING: Extreme care
should be taken when strip-
ping paint. The peelings,
residue and vapors of paint
may contain lead, which is
poisonous. Any pre-1977
paint may contain lead and
paint applied to homes prior to
1950 is likely to contain lead.
Once deposited on surfaces,
hand to mouth contact can
result in the ingestion of lead.
Exposure to even low levels of
lead can cause irreversible
brain and nervous system
damage; young and unborn
children are particularly vul-
nerable.
Before beginning any paint
removal process you should
determine whether the paint
you are removing contains
lead. This can be done by
your local health department
or by a professional who uses
a paint analyzer to check the
lead content of the paint to be
removed. LEAD BASED
PAINT SHOULD ONLY BE
REMOVED BY A PROFES-
SIONAL AND SHOULD NOT
BE REMOVED USING A
HEAT GUN.
Hidden areas such as behind
walls, ceilings, floors, soffit
boards and other panels may
contain flammable materials
that could be ignited by the
heat gun when working in
these locations. The ignition of
these materials may not be
readily apparent and could
result in property damage and
injury to persons.
When working in these loca-
tions, keep the heat gun mov-
ing in a back-and-forth motion.
Lingering or pausing in one
spot could ignite the panel or
the material behind it.
Persons removing paint should
follow these guidelines:
1. Move the work piece out-
doors. If this is not possible,
keep the work area well
ventilated. Open the win-
dows and put an exhaust
fan in one of them. Be sure
the fan is moving the air
from inside to outside.
2. Remove or cover any car-
pets, rugs, furniture, cloth-
ing, cooking utensils and air
ducts.
3. Place drop cloths in the
work area to catch any
paint chips or peelings.
Wear protective clothing
such as extra work shirts,
overalls and hats.
4. Work in one room at a time.
Furnishings should be
removed or placed in the
center of the room and cov-
ered. Work areas should be
sealed off from the rest of
the dwelling by sealing
doorways with drop cloths.
5. Children, pregnant or
potentially pregnant women
and nursing mothers should
not be present in the work
area until the work is done
and all clean up is complete.
6. Wear a dust respirator
mask or a dual filter (dust
and fume) respirator mask
which has been approved
by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration
(OSHA), the National
3
Institute of Safety and
Health (NIOSH), or the
United States Bureau of
Mines. These masks and
replaceable filters are read-
ily available at major hard-
ware stores. Be sure the
mask fits. Beards and facial
hair may keep masks from
sealing properly. PAPER
MASKS ARE NOT
ADEQUATE.
7. Use caution when operating
the heat gun. Keep the heat
gun moving, as excessive
heat will generate fumes
which can be inhaled by the
operator.
8. Keep food and drink out of
the work area. Wash
hands, arms and face and
rinse mouth before eating
or drinking. Do not smoke
or chew gum or tobacco in
the work area.
9. Clean up all removed paint
and dust by wet mopping
the floors. Use a wet cloth
to clean all walls, sills and
any other surface where
paint or dust is clinging. DO
NOT SWEEP, DRY DUST
OR VACUUM. Use a high
phosphate detergent or
trisodium phosphate (TSP)
to wash and mop areas.
10. At the end of each work
session put the paint chips
and debris in a double
plastic bag, close it with
tape or twist ties and dis-
pose of properly.
11. Remove protective cloth-
ing and work shoes in the
work area to avoid carry-
ing dust into the rest of