MoreAs of July 8, 2010, all contractors performing renovation,
repair or painting work in homes built before 1978 must be trained in, and
follow, the agency's lead-safe work practice requirements. However, the agency
announced it will hold off enforcement of its rule due to the difficulty of
getting everyone trained in time.
The rule removes a provision from existing regulations that allowed owner-occupants of pre-1978 homes to "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices if there were no children under six years of age in the home.
Because of concern that contractors in some areas may be having difficulty accessing training classes, the EPA recently announced that it is providing renovation firms and workers additional time to obtain training and certifications to comply with the new lead rules. The agency will not take enforcement action for violations of the rule's firm certification requirement until Oct. 1, 2010, and will not enforce certification requirements against individual renovation workers if they apply to enroll in certified renovator classes by Sept. 30, 2010 and complete the training by Dec. 31, 2010.
According the EPA, the agency eliminated the so-called opt-out provision because improper renovations in older homes can create lead hazards resulting in harmful health effects for residents and visitors in these homes, regardless of age.
The RRP rule requires certification of training providers and lead-safe work practice certification for individuals involved in the construction and remodeling industry. To date, the agency has certified 254 training providers who have conducted more than 16,000 courses and trained an estimated 320,000 renovators in lead-safe work practices.
The agency will continue to take enforcement actions against renovation firms and individuals who do not comply with the RRP work practices and associated recordkeeping requirements. The lead-safe work practices include dust control, site clean up and work area containment.
More information on the lead RRP program is available at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
Source: EPA Press Release
The rule removes a provision from existing regulations that allowed owner-occupants of pre-1978 homes to "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices if there were no children under six years of age in the home.
Because of concern that contractors in some areas may be having difficulty accessing training classes, the EPA recently announced that it is providing renovation firms and workers additional time to obtain training and certifications to comply with the new lead rules. The agency will not take enforcement action for violations of the rule's firm certification requirement until Oct. 1, 2010, and will not enforce certification requirements against individual renovation workers if they apply to enroll in certified renovator classes by Sept. 30, 2010 and complete the training by Dec. 31, 2010.
According the EPA, the agency eliminated the so-called opt-out provision because improper renovations in older homes can create lead hazards resulting in harmful health effects for residents and visitors in these homes, regardless of age.
The RRP rule requires certification of training providers and lead-safe work practice certification for individuals involved in the construction and remodeling industry. To date, the agency has certified 254 training providers who have conducted more than 16,000 courses and trained an estimated 320,000 renovators in lead-safe work practices.
The agency will continue to take enforcement actions against renovation firms and individuals who do not comply with the RRP work practices and associated recordkeeping requirements. The lead-safe work practices include dust control, site clean up and work area containment.
More information on the lead RRP program is available at http://www.epa.gov/lead.
Source: EPA Press Release
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