In recognition of the National Lead Poisoning Awareness Week (October 22-28), North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, has proclaimed October 23, 2017, as “Lead-Safe Renovators Day,” recognizing those contractors that have received North Carolina Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certification and work to safeguard children’s health when performing renovations in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.
You may be asking yourself, “Do I need to take the 8-hour RRP class?”
Do you enter any residence or child-occupied facility built prior to 1978?
While performing your job, do you ever disturb paint?
When you disturb paint, does it impact more than 6 square feet of surface in any single room or more than 20 square feet across a structure’s exterior?
Does your job require you to sometimes perform minor or major demolition, especially window removal, in structures built prior to 1978?
Exposure to dust that results from disturbing lead paint impacts the health of homeowners, homeowners’ families, workers and workers’ families.
While lead adversely affects everyone, children exposed to lead paint can very easily suffer brain damage. Keep in mind that lead travels as it settles in the fibers of work clothes, so workers often bring it home with them and expose their own families.
What can you do to make yourself both RRP compliant and aware of the dangers?
Contact The EI Group with any lead questions and sign up for an 8-hour Initial RRP course. Do not forget that RRP training expires after five years, so if your certificate is no longer valid, register for an RRP Refresher course!