After the stripping of asbestos materials, the next procedure per ICR 56 after the first cleaning is to encapsulate the surfaces that were not the subject of abatement.

• A. Encapsulate the surfaces not the subject of abatement
• B. Dismantle the containment and expose surfaces
• C. Conduct a full decontamination rinse of all areas
• D. Remove PPE and decontaminate outside the area

Answer: (A)

Controlling fiber release by sealing non-abated surfaces is the step the rules call for after the initial cleaning. Encapsulating those surfaces creates a protective barrier over any asbestos fibers that remain on areas not targeted for removal, which helps prevent fibers from becoming airborne or migrating to other parts of the site during the rest of the cleanup. This encapsulation also prepares the work area for final decontamination by giving a uniform, sealed surface to work with.

Dismantling the containment now would undo the protection already in place and potentially release fibers. A full decontamination rinse of all areas is not the immediate next action because encapsulation addresses containment and surface sealing first, with rinsing typically part of later cleanup steps. Removing PPE and decontaminating outside the area is a later end-of-work procedure, after the area has been cleaned and contained.