Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its first fine against a contractor in violation of the agency’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) lead-safety regulations. Read the article here. The penalty for this contractor, based in Rockland, Maine, may run upwards of $150,000, according to some estimates. Acting on an anonymous tip, the EPA concluded that the contractor failed to follow lead-safe work practices during the renovation of an 1852 multi-unit residential property where six children lived. The allegations include failure to do all of the following:
- train employees in RRP practices
- post warning signs in the work area
- cover the ground in the work area with plastic sheeting to collect lead paint debris
- contain waste to prevent the release of dust and debris
- prohibit use of machines that remove lead-based paint through high speed operation without HEPA exhaust controls
- and establish and maintain records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the rule
Why should lead safety be important to you, as a homeowner? If your house contains lead paint, and you hire a non-compliant contractor to perform renovations, you could be placing your family’s health in serious risk. Furthermore, there is a chance that your project could be shut down before it is complete.