Natural Disasters in the Southeast cause EPA to Urge Caution on Restoration Activities Involving Lead-based Paint (AL, GA, KY, MS, SC, TN)
(ATLANTA – May 11, 2011) – Due to recent
tornadoes, severe and straight-line winds, storms, and flooding in
the Southeastern United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 4 is cautioning homeowners, volunteers, and
other workers to take steps to ensure that individuals, especially
children, are not at increased risk for lead poisoning, because of
clean up and/or repair work. EPA urges pregnant women and children
to keep away from work that could disturb lead-based paint and that
those working on potential lead-based paint surfaces take
precautions to prevent the spread of lead dust.
Lead dust may pose a hazard to children and
pregnant women during cleanup resulting from natural
disasters.Lead contaminated dust is the most significant source
of lead exposure for children. Common renovation activities like
sanding, cutting and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and
chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to
adults and children. Lead-based paint was used in more than 38
million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978. Lead
exposure can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental
delays, and behavioral problems in young children.
The Renovation Repair and Painting Rule (RRP)
requires that workers disturbing lead-based paint be trained and
certified, notify residents of the lead dust hazards, and follow
lead safe work practices, in order to reduce exposure to lead dust.
Because of the nature of the storm recovery work, certain emergency
provisions in the RRP apply. Work covered under the RRP rule on
storm damaged housing will not require advance notice or trained
renovators to remove materials from homes. Emergency renovation
activities are also exempt from the warning sign, containment,
waste-handling, training, and certification requirements to the
extent necessary to respond to the emergency. Other renovation
activities are subject to the rule requirements. Volunteer workers,
who do not receive compensation for work, are not required to be
certified, but should educate themselves about lead-safe work
practices, so as not to inadvertently cause hazards for themselves
or other family members.
The RRP program mandates that contractors,
property managers and others working for compensation, in homes and
child-occupied facilities built before 1978, must be trained and
use lead-safe work practices. They are also required to provide a
copy of the lead pamphlet “Renovate Right; Important Lead
Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and
Schools” to owners and occupants before starting renovation
work.
You can learn more about protecting your family
from lead-based paint and EPA’s lead program at https://www.epa.gov/lead or by contacting the National Lead Information Center
at 800-424-LEAD (5323).