Course Schedule Updated
Through December 2010

 Environmental Health & Safety Training

GREETINGS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE!

As I am sure many of you know, we are nearly at the April 22, 2010 implementation date of EPA’s new Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule. What many people did not realize, myself especially, was the massive impact that this rule would have.  Renovation, repair and painting contractors, nationwide, have to have trained and certified personnel, and the company must be certified, if they do anything other than very minor work in Target Housing and Child Occupied Facilities.  National home improvement and retail operations are requiring their subcontracted contractors and installers to go through this program before they will give them any work. Renovator, painter, window installer and other trade groups are pushing the RRP requirements to their membership in a big way.

By the time you read this, The Environmental Institute will have offered over 20 sold out RRP classes, representing approximately 600 students. Across the country, every approved RRP training provider I have spoken to are reporting the same thing.  It has been a long time since I have seen a new EPA program have this large of an impact.

Under the new EPA RRP rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors (painters, remodeling firms, etc.), maintenance workers, and others performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, apartments, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified.  Also, firms must have at least one "Certified Renovator" assigned to jobs where lead based paint is disturbed.  There are communication, paint testing, work practice and final cleaning issues that will be new to many.

To become a certified renovator, the individual must successfully complete the Renovator Initial or Refresher course (refresher only for those currently licensed as a lead abatement supervisor/firm) conducted by The Environmental Institute or other EPA or State-accredited RRP training provider. All firms performing or desiring to perform renovation, repair or painting work must become certified by April 22, 2010. 

Child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities.  The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead based paint is disturbed in a room or where less than 20 square feet of lead based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.

This RRP program is a 1-day course developed by the U.S. EPA, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to train renovation, repair, and painting contractors how to work safely in housing with lead based paint and comply with EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, and HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule.

Feel free to contact myself or Tom Laubenthal at TEI is you’d like more information about the Lead RRP rule.

I look forward to seeing you in the near future!

Dave Hogue

April, 2010