GallifordTry: Lead-Based Paint Testing

Introduction

During refurbishment works on legacy buildings, GallifordTry, a leading UK construction and infrastructure group, identified the potential presence of lead-based paint across multiple work areas.

Given the age and construction of the buildings, elements of the planned refurbishment programme involved disturbance of existing painted surfaces. To ensure that works progressed safely and in line with regulatory expectations, it was necessary to confirm whether lead was present, assess potential exposure risk, and establish appropriate control measures before and during intrusive activities.

With several contractors operating on-site and key programme milestones to maintain, GallifordTry required timely, evidence-based occupational hygiene support that would provide clarity without delaying progress.

Envirochem was engaged to deliver specialist lead in paint analysis and on-site occupational hygiene expertise, supporting informed decision making and safe refurbishment delivery.

The Challenge

Managing potential lead in paint within a live refurbishment environment involved addressing several requirements at once: confirming whether lead was present, understanding the associated exposure risk, and ensuring control measures were effective in the context of project-specific challenges.

For example, GallifordTry’s refurbishment works involved multiple trades operating across defined areas, which meant that any delay in confirming risk status or control effectiveness could disrupt sequencing and handover. At the same time, exposure controls and hygiene standards needed to be robust enough to protect workers and provide confidence to the wider project team.

GallifordTry therefore required a solution that would:

• Provide clear data on the presence and concentration of lead
• Translate laboratory findings into practical site controls
• Verify that removal and cleaning activities achieved the required standard
• Support compliance documentation without creating unnecessary administrative burden

The overall challenge was to integrate occupational hygiene seamlessly into an active construction programme, ensuring safety without compromising delivery.

How Envirochem Helped

To meet these challenges, Envirochem delivered a structured occupational hygiene programme designed to keep GallifordTry’s refurbishment programme moving safely and on-target. This combined rapid laboratory testing with on-site monitoring and clear guidance, so that each stage of the works could proceed with evidence-based controls in place.

Our support included:

• Fast-turnaround laboratory testing and analysis of paint samples to confirm the presence and concentration of lead.
• Practical advice on safe working methods for the disturbance and removal of lead-containing coatings, in line with recognised good practice.
• Surface swab sampling following removal works and cleaning to identify any residual contamination and confirm that areas met agreed reoccupation criteria.
• Airborne dust monitoring, where appropriate, to evaluate exposure risks during higher-risk tasks.
• Targeted hazard awareness training for contractors and site teams, reinforcing their understanding of lead exposure and the importance of good hygiene practices.

All testing and analytical work was carried out by Envirochem’s own in-house, UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (No. 1227), with results typically available within 48 hours. Throughout the project, Envirochem worked closely with site management and contractors to ensure findings were clearly communicated and translated into practical actions on-site. This approach helped maintain consistent standards across all affected work areas and provided GallifordTry with the data required to support rapid decision making throughout the refurbishment works.

The Outcome

Through Envirochem’s timely testing, clear guidance, and follow-up verification, GallifordTry was able to manage lead paint risks effectively whilst keeping their refurbishment programme on schedule. Lead-containing coatings were identified and characterised early enough in the works to inform planning, so intrusive tasks could proceed with appropriate controls already in place rather than having to react to issues once they arose.

Envirochem’s monitoring and verification activities provided reassurance that removal and cleaning works had achieved the intended standard, allowing affected areas to be handed back to the programme without unnecessary rework or delay. The documentation produced supported GallifordTry in demonstrating compliance with relevant health and safety requirements, strengthening their position in the event of any client or regulator scrutiny and helping to reduce the likelihood of enforcement action or project disruption.

Across the project, engagement with contractors and site teams also had a lasting benefit. Targeted hazard awareness training improved understanding of lead exposure among those working in the affected areas, which contributed to more consistent behaviours on site, a stronger shared focus on worker protection, and greater confidence among stakeholders that legacy materials were being handled in a controlled manner.

Lessons Learned

This project highlighted how effective hazard management for refurbishment projects depends as much on successful coordination and communication as it does on rapid and reliable laboratory analysis. Agreeing clear sampling plans and reoccupation criteria at the outset meant that testing and monitoring could move in step with site activities, rather than in isolation.

It also underlined the benefits of taking a consistent approach across multiple contractors. Building hazard awareness training into briefings and day-to-day supervision helped align behaviours on site so that hygiene practices and use of controls were understood in the same way by everyone involved.

From Envirochem’s perspective, this project reinforced the value of pairing in-house analytical capability with regular contact between occupational hygienists, site management, and supervisors. This model allowed us to respond quickly to emerging questions, interpret results in context, and support GallifordTry in maintaining a structured approach to hazard control across the programme.

Conclusion

Envirochem’s occupational hygiene expertise played an important role in helping GallifordTry manage the risks associated with lead-based paint during refurbishment works. By combining rapid UKAS-accredited laboratory testing with on-site monitoring and practical guidance, we enabled confident decision making, kept the refurbishment programme on schedule, and supported GallifordTry in protecting their worker’s health and safety.

This case study demonstrates Envirochem’s ability to deliver integrated occupational hygiene solutions for refurbishment projects involving legacy coatings. Our approach brings together lead in paint analysis, surface and airborne monitoring, hazard control advice, and targeted contractor training, helping clients maintain consistent standards across multi-contractor sites whilst meeting their regulatory obligations.

For organisations planning or delivering refurbishment or maintenance works in older buildings, Envirochem offers experienced, project-focused occupational hygiene support and laboratory testing tailored to specific project challenges. To discuss an upcoming project or find out more about how we can support your refurbishment programmes, please contact our team, or visit our Occupational Hygiene and Built Environment Testing pages for more information.