Lead Renovators Certification: The Importance of Staying Up-To-Date
If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard about lead poisoning in children and the potential dangers of using and handling old paint. But did you know that there are other people who are exposed to dangerous levels of lead? If you own or manage an apartment building, business, or public space, and perform renovations that disturb lead-based paint, then you need to become certified as a Lead Renovator through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC-DEQ). Continue reading if you want to learn more about why you should get your Lead Renovator certification today!
If you’re a professional renovator, you know that the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires you to be certified in lead-safe work practices. But did you know that it’s important to keep your certification up to date? Here are some reasons why renovators need to stay current on their certification: To remain certified each year, you must have at least 40 hours of continuing education credits. You can’t re-certify if you’ve had any disciplinary action taken against your company during the last five years for violating OSHA standards or regulations related to hazardous substances. Your recertification fee is lower than a new one. Some states require more training than others. For example, while Maryland only requires 8 hours of continuing education credits annually, California has a very detailed list of required topics ranging from asbestos to radon. And finally, by keeping your certification up-to-date, you’re showing contractors and homeowners that you’re committed to providing safe services.
The EPA’s Lead Renovator Rule requires that individuals performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that could disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified by the EPA. The training covers everything from health hazards and risk assessment to containment and clean-up procedures. In order to maintain their certification, lead renovators must complete a refresher course every five years. Renovators should keep a copy of their certificate on hand for reference during work days. As a lead renovator, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest certification requirements. One way to do this is to take a refresher course every few years. Additionally, make sure to keep abreast of any changes to the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP). By staying current, you’ll be able to protect yourself and your clients from the hazards of lead exposure.
There are a few ways to become a certified lead renovator. You can take an accredited training course or an online refresher course. You can also take a state-approved RRP training course from one of the states or territories where EPA is not providing such courses. The third option is to do all three; take an accredited training course, take an online refresher course, and do a state-approved RRP training course. But this will take more time and money than just taking one option. Firms must be re-certified every five years for lead training, but this too, may vary depending on your individual circumstances. It’s worth noting that if your name changes because of marriage or other reasons, you need to re-certify with your new name at least 30 days before starting work as a lead renovator again.