For centuries, lead paint has been a dangerous aspect of painting. In the 20th century, the dangers of lead paint finally came to light, and the United States government banned its use or sale in 1978. Still, many American schools and homes still have lead paint on their walls. If you decide to renovate, paint, or repair your home, take heed, because it can be dangerous; it may turn existing lead paint into dust that adults or children can inhale. Commercial Painting methods are increasingly effected by lead paint. This is why the Environmental Protection Agency has a new certification policy that requires renovation, repair, and painting RRP workers to take specialized training and use “lead-safe” practices on jobsites. RRP workers agree: it’s a long overdue and important safety measure.
The EPA’s Lead-Safe Certification Program, published in 2008, took effect April 2010. This certification program stipulates that RRP workers, if working with lead paint in child-care centers, schools, or homes that were built pre-1978, to be certified in lead paint removal. The EPA then went on a PR blitz to encourage clients to only work with RRP firms that were certified in lead paint removal. The agency estimates that over 200,000 United States renovators will have done work on pre-1978 buildings within one year of the program’s inception.
Lead paint that is in technically “good shape” will only harm humans when removed in the wrong way. Most of the time, lead dust or chips will be found on the areas of the building that get the most use, like stairs, doors, porches, and windowsills. If an area with lead paint is scraped, heated, or sanded, it can turn the lead into particle matter that resides in the air.
What many home or business owners may not realize is that the ground around their property could contain lead The ground can absorb lead paint bits from exterior siding, and dust inside the residence may include a high amount of lead. If you’re worried that your children have been exposed and suffered from prolonged exposure, take them to the doctor for a blood test.
Landlords of buildings built before 1978 are now required by the EPA to discuss possible lead paint present in the building with potential renters and owners; this information must also be listed on the lease agreement. If someone is sell a building built before 1978, they also have to provide lead paint details to all parties in the decision-making process toward making a purchase. A seller or buyer may request a paint inspection if they’re unsure whether or not the building contains lead.
The EPA’s Lead-Safe Certification Program may seem like its purpose is to intrude upon a home or business owner’s privacy, but that’s not what it’s meant for. After all, if children are exposed to lead paint, they can have learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and compromised intelligence; symptoms may not even appear until the irreversible damage has already been done. A child’s developing body is more prone to lead poisoning than an adults’, and it takes a greater toll. While lead poisoning in children is completely preventable, it still affects over one million children.
Lead paint is also harmful to pregnant women. If an expecting mom-to-be inhales lead dust, her fetus may be in danger. If adults are exposed to lead dust, it can cause hypertension, nerve damage, declined concentration and memory, reproductive issues, and paint in muscles or joints. About two-thirds of American homes were built before 1978, so the EPA’s new program is extremely important current issue.
RRP workers who use lead-safe work practices aren’t just protecting consumers – they’re also protecting themselves. Facemasks and protective clothing is advisable for many jobs, and plastic sheeting is usually used to contain a work area. Workers should also take regular blood tests.
While the new practices from the EPA cost more than the old, unsafe ones do, it’s important for RRP workers to follow the rules. Lead-safe projects cost between $8 and $167 more on average. Exterior projects that need vertical containment will cost more. Because these extra expenses on the contractor’s part may cost the customer more, some homeowners and landlords may want to do these improvements themselves; it spares them having to follow the EPA’s rules to the letter, but it would be unwise to ignore them. One of the most important aspects of the program is to sandblast lead paint only at low power, and to seal drains, vents, and faucets when removing paint; otherwise, dust could infiltrate your home.
A company needs to apply for certification with a form and a $300 fee. The company’s employees then take eight hours of training, two of which are hands-on. EPA-accredited trainers provide instruction, and some contractors even serve as trainers for their area. There are hundreds of approved trainers across the U.S., and each one decides their own instructor fees. After being trained, RRP workers will lessen the quantity of lead dust produced on each job, effectively contain their work area, and clean up completely after a job is finished. The RRP workers also prepare the homes before starting work and notify the owners about safety concerns during the process of renovating their home.
EPA certification for lead paint removal is valid for five years. If your RRP company isn’t yet certified, contact the EPA as soon as possible. Learning online is a great option. Training materials come in Spanish and English and inform the student about preparation, dust containment, proper clean-up, etc. Smaller jobs, or ones that disturb less than 6 square feet of interior paint or 20 square feet of exterior paint, do not have to follow the new procedures. States and tribes can create their own personal lead-safe practices, but they must be equivalent to the federal practices.
A contractor should provide the EPA’s pamphlet on lead dangers to a customer. Customers have the right to see a company’s certification and/or receive a copy of it; the company should also explain the lead-safe practices it uses on individual jobs. Remember that your contractor should have at least three references based on pre-1978 jobs; he or she should also keep a record of all major details in relation to their employees’ training in lead-safe practices.
Not hiring a certified RRP company and going instead with an uncertified one isn’t worth it; you’re putting yourself and others in danger, and your contractor would even risk large fines of up to $37,500/violation/day or even jail time. If you’re still uncertain about the EPA’s lead-safe program, call 1-800-424-LEAD; you may also search for a firm in your area by going to the EPA website.
Lead paint dangers should not be taken lightly. The EPA is just trying to live up to what the “P” in its name stands for. It’s now the consumers’ choice to demand the safest possible work practices, and to the contractors to become certified and use only EPA-regulated practices. If everyone works together, we can ensure greater safety in buildings and homes all across the United States.