CONTRACTOR ENCLOSING ROOM WITH LEAD PAINT PAINT
Last year, thousands of Illinois children were poisoned by Lead. Dozens of these kids were in Adams, Brown, Pike, and Schuyler Counties. Illinois has one on the highest incident rates for childhood Lead Poisoning in the country. Lead may cause learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavior problems, lower intelligence, stunted growth, and hearing loss.
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978; however, homes built before then may still contain lead paint hazards. Of particular concern are tiny dust particles created by the sanding and scraping during renovation, remolding and painting work done in a home with lead-based paint. These activities can result in extremely high lead levels in a home. Worse yet, this dust can be unknowingly ingested or inhaled by small children and adults alike. Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials offices is working to keep our housing stock “Be Lead Safe”. Contact Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials for information about Lead Safety.
Did you know Two Rivers Regional Council:
- partners with U.S. EPA and Illinois Department of Public Health to increase Lead Poisoning awareness
- has been involved in Home Rehabilitation Project since 1988
- has four licensed Lead Inspectors/Assessors on staff
- has a HEPA vacuum available for loan
- hosts lead classes for contractors annually
In April 2010 the a new federal law went into effect nationwide, requiring anyone who works on pre 1978 homes be certified in Lead Safe Work Practices. The is law is called “Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair, and Painting”, or RRP. Anyone who disturbs at least six square feet of painted surface space must take an 8 hour course on how to work safely with lead paint in order to get a certificate. Firms that remodel, paint, install windows, perform electrical work etc. will need to register their firm with EPA. A certified worker must be at each job site to insure proper procedures are being followed.
For information on RRP classes being held locally, call Two Rivers Regional Council. The agency also hosts a ‘Lead Abatement ‘ class for contractors in the winter annually. This class allows participants to get a state license to perform lead mitigation activities. The class is four days long for a Supervisor License and three days for a Worker License.
For more information call Sandra Trusewych at 217-224-8171 ext. 109
