Bob St. Clair of First Service Industries and Luxury Bath & Kitchen Design Studio in Loves Park, IL was kind enough to pass this item along. As of April 22, 2010, the EPA requires that renovation, repair and painting contractors be certified in lead safety practices for work done in pre-1978 homes, schools and child care facilities that have lead based paint. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less than 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior.
Contractors have to become certified in lead safety practice (here is the application) and supply owners with this pamphlet: Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF). Additionally, renovators should:
- Find a training provider that has been accredited by EPA to provide training for renovators under EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Program
- Provide a copy of your EPA or state lead training certificate to your client
- Tell your client what lead-safe methods you will use to perform the job
- Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning in April 2010
- Ask your client to share the results of any previously conducted lead tests
- Provide your client with references from at least three recent jobs involving homes built before 1978
- Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you followed lead-safe work practices on the job
- Read about how to comply with EPA’s rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right
- Read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA’s Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting
You can learn all about the new rules and regulations at www.epa.gov.
