The following is the final installment in our 3 part blog series on the history of lead-based paint in the United States.
The RRP Rule as a Response
To create awareness and confirm that lead precautions are now being taken by the trades most commonly impacted—Renovators, Repairmen & Painters (RRP)—the EPA identified two types of structures where contamination is most common, particularly to children:
- Target housing – residential buildings (homes, duplexes, apartment complexes, etc.) built before 1978
- Child-occupied facilities – public/commercial buildings regularly visited by children under 6 (daycares, elementary schools, etc.) built before 1978
Beginning in 2010, companies entering target housing and child-occupied facilities to do work anywhere in America are required to be certified as a lead firm with the EPA or their state and include a Certified Lead Renovator on staff. The Certified Lead Renovator is responsible for overseeing the use of lead safe work practices and delivering pre-renovation education that informs homeowners and tenants about the potential for lead-based paint in their homes. Training is simple (an accredited 8-hour course), and the penalties for failing to register as a firm are purposely stiff. Since 2015, inspections of job sites have continued to increase with major fines announced for blatant disregard nationwide.
So, if you are risking the consequences of violating this very simple certification, do yourself a favor and contact The EI Group today. Virtually all trades working in homes built prior to 1978 are impacted. The public is becoming more and more educated about Lead Certified Firms, and slowly, homeowners are learning the consequences of hiring careless workers. More importantly, the 8-hour RRP class will teach you how to protect your clients, your workers and your workers’ families.
Lead-based paint has a long history of negatively impacting this country. Don’t let your business be another victim.