Next certification class:
St. Louis Park, Minnesota - September 9, 2010 - this class will fill up quickly. You must pre-register to hold your spot. The cost is $235 per attendee for PHCC and MEA members and includes lunch.
For more information contact Carla at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 1-800-646-6742.
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Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.
The rule affects paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
- Renovation contractors
- Maintenance workers in multi-family housing
- Painters and other specialty trades.
Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. Read EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule.
Information for Contractors
As a contractor, you play an important role in helping to prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead. By following the lead-safe work practices, you can prevent lead hazards.
Before beginning work, contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must:
- Provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.3MB). Contractors must
- Document compliance with this requirement; EPA's pre-renovation disclosure form (PDF) (1 pp, 36K) may be used for this purpose.
After April 22, 2010, federal law requires contractors to be certified and to use lead-safe work practices. To become certified, renovation contractors must:
Submit an application and fee payment to EPA.
Application for firm certification (PDF) (9 pp, 590K)
EPA began processing applications on October 22, 2009. The Agency has up to 90 days after receiving a complete request for certification to approve or disapprove the application.
Contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs should also:
Take training to learn how to perform lead-safe work practices.
Please note that if you previously completed an eligible renovation training course you may take the 4-hour refresher course instead of the 8-hour initial course from an accredited training provider to become a certified renovator.
- Provide a copy of your EPA or state lead training certificate to your client.
- Tell your client what lead-safe methods you will use to perform the job.
- Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning April 22, 2010.
- Ask your client to share the results of any previously conducted lead tests.
- Provide your client with references from at least three recent jobs involving homes built before 1978.
Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you follow lead-safe work practices on the job. To make recordkeeping easier, you may use the sample recordkeeping checklist (PDF) (1 pg, 58K) that EPA has developed to help contractors comply with the renovation recordkeeping requirements that took effect April 22, 2010.
Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) (34 pp, 2.5MB)
Read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA's Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (PDF) (36 pp, 878K)