Westside Home Builders Association

Lead Safety Class Announcing Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair, and Painting Class
If you are a contractor, painter, electrician, plumber or any firm planning to do renovation, repair or painting in a house or housing built before 1978, you may be at risk in the use of unsafe lead-safe practices. Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. A rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices was issued by the EPA on April 22, 2008. The rule is aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning on April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. On March 17th Westside HBA will be offering a class on Lead Safety for RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) for lead safe remodeling practices. Environmental Institute, an EPA-accredited RRP training provider, is offering this one day class for the Initial Renovator course as well as the Refresher course (for those currently licensed as a lead abatement supervisor/firm). Course Fee: $300 (includes exam) Upcoming public classes at the WHBA Traning Room, 8486 Bowden Street, Douglasville, GA 30134. Wednesday, March 17, 2010 8:00 - 5:00 Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 8:00 - 5:00 At least one certified renovator will need to be assigned by firms to a job(s) that have the disturbance of lead-based paint. Companies performing or desiring to perform renovation, repair or painting work must become certified by April 22, 2010. When training is completed, companies can apply to EPA or to your State to obtain certification. Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. 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 then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair. Understand that after April 22, 2010, federal law will require you to be certified and to use lead-safe work practices. Again, to become certified, renovation contractors must submit an application and fee payment to EPA after attending and passing the one day training. Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices. All contractors should follow these three simple procedures: Contain the work area. Minimize dust. Clean up thoroughly. If you are a homeowner performing your own renovation, repair, or painting work in your own home, EPA's RRP rule does not cover your project. However, you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family or children in your care. Link To Register Link To Pay Online