Deadline for Contractors to Become Lead-Safe Certified Approaching

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it expects more than 125,000 renovation and remodeling contractors to be trained in lead-safe work practices by April 22, the effective date for a rule requiring such training. The agency is on target to implement the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule on April 22.

The EPA points out that anyone receiving compensation for renovating, repairing and painting work in residences built before 1978 that disturbs painted surfaces is subject to the new Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. Also affected by the RRP are those performing similar work on facilities occupied by children less than six years of age, such as schools and day-care centers built prior to 1978.

To ensure contractors were following such procedures, the EPA finalized the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP) rule in 2008. The rule requires contractors to become trained and certified as lead-safe by EPA. Individuals take an eight-hour training course offered by private training providers to become a certified renovator. The certification is valid for five years.

To locate local EPA-accredited RRP training providers using EPA’s search tool:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_training.htm.