EPA Issues New Rule regarding Lead Paint

April 28, 2010

Even the most common renovations around the home such as demolition, sanding, and cutting can and does create hazardous lead dust and lead chips via the disturbance of lead based paint. The small dust and chips can harm children and adults.

In an effort to protect against the risk, the EPA issues a rule requiring the use of lead safe practices and other action all aimed in the prevention of lead poisoning on April 22, 2010. Under these new rules or standards, contractors that are performing acts of repair, renovation, and painting projects that disturb the lead based paint in school, child care facilities and homes that were built prior to 1978 must be certified and follow certain practices in order to prevent contamination.

Three of the procedures recommended include containing the work area, minimize the amount of dust, and clean the area thoroughly.

The EPA has the power to approve territories, tribes, and states to administer their own RRP program that would operate in place of the EPA regulations. Once a state becomes authorized residents and contractors will need to contact the appropriate program office. At this time the states that have been authorized by the EPA include Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin,

Property owners of rental housing or child occupied facilities must also meet the requirements if they plan to repair, renovate or prepare surfaces for painting in any type of housing or building facility that was built before 1978. All property owners will need to be certified in order to renovate or repair any facility built prior to 1978.

Property owners that wish to perform such tasks should take training to learn the lead safe working practices, learn the lead laws, keep records to show that you and your workers have been trained, read how to comply with the EPA rules, and read how to use lead safe work practices.

References and helpful links include:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_training.htm
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/samplechecklist.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/sbcomplianceguide.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/steps.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

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