EPA
February 24, 2010
Many homes and businesses built before 1978 were painted with lead-based paint. Also, many of those structures still have lead-based paint that can create dust that can be harmful to the environment and to children who may ingest flakes of paint that have started to peel off. There are certain safety measures that should be taken when dealing with even simple maintenance and painting activities in order to prevent this dangerous dust from getting into the environment where people may be at risk of inhalation. In an effort to protect the environment and small children, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will be putting new lead-base paint rules into effect on April 22, 2010. These rules apply to houses, apartments, schools, day cares, and other child-occupied facilities built in the U.S. prior to 1978.
Starting on April 22, 2010, ALL contractors must be EPA-certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination while working on project built before 1978.
These new work practices include:
-Work must be preformed in accordance with the EPA Lead-Based Paint
Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Standards
-Posting lead hazard signs around the property
-Providing owners and residents with a specific EPA lead hazard pamphlet
-Contractors must follow new EPA-mandated lead-safe work practices such as
detailed dust containment measures and clean-up and waste disposal
procedures
-Contractors must also maintain written documentation of lead-safe practices in
accordance with EPA specifications
Violators of these new rules can be fined up to $37,500 per violation, per day. For complete details of the new EPA rules, please visit www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.
JMA Painters has attended the EPA-accredited training course and passed all the necessary tests in order to be in compliance with these new rules. If you have any questions regarding these new changes we would be happy to help. You can contact JMA Painters at 337-344-1569.