by Jbs041210 g3 — April l4, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced April 8 that it expects more than 125,000 renovation and remodeling contractors to be trained in lead-safe work practices by April 22, 2010, the date that the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule will take effect.
EPA notes that despite nearly 30 years of effort to reduce childhood lead exposures, a million American children are still poisoned by lead paint each year, sometimes as a result of remodeling activities.
To ensure contractors take steps to minimize exposures to lead paint during renovation activities, EPA finalized the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule in 2008. The rule requires contractors to become trained and certified as lead-safe by EPA. Individuals take a one-day, eight-hour training course offered by private training providers to become a certified renovator. The certification is valid for five years.
To date, EPA has certified 190 training providers who have conducted more than 4,900 courses. An estimated 100,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries have been trained in lead-safe work practices. Based on current estimates, EPA expects more than 125,000 contractors to be certified by the April 22 deadline, and says it is likely that many more contractors and renovators will obtain training after the deadline.
To locate local EPA-accredited RRP training providers or renovation firms, or for more information on EPA’s lead program, visit EPA’s “Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil” Web page.
