It’s the Law!

The new Federal lead law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating more than six square feet of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

With fines starting at $35,000.00, the government is serious. What it implies but does not say is “While you are required to remediate pre-1978 environments, you are still responsible if you fail to identify lead in ANY building and harm someone.”
Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies. Lead is also harmful to adults. In adults, low levels of lead can pose many dangers, including high blood pressure and hypertension.

Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is, more often than not, invisible. Projects that disturb painted surfaces can create lead dust, which can endanger you and your family. Don’t let this happen to you!

Even though lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes, it was banned from residential use in 1978.

You play an important role ensuring the ultimate safety of your family. This means properly preparing for you renovation and staying out of the work areas. Federal law requires that the contractors performing the renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 and in child care facilities and schools before 1978, that a child under 6 years of age visits regularly, to be certified in and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

There are some things you can do to protect your family every day:
• Regularly clean floor, window sills, and other surfaces
• Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often
• Make sure children eat a healthy, nutritious diet consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, which helps protect children from the side effects of lead.
• Wipe off shoes before entering the house.

Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification.

If you think that a worker is not doing what they are supposed to or is doing something that is unsafe, you should:
• Contact your landlord
• Call your local health or building department
• Call EPA’s hotline 1-800-424-LEAD (5323)

If you are concerned about your family’s exposure to lead call your local health department for advice on reducing and eliminating exposures to lead inside and outside your home, child care facilities and schools. A blood test is the only way to find out if you or a family member already has lead poisoning, which you can arrange from your local doctor or health professional.

For more information about the health effects of exposure to lead, visit the EPA lead website at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm or call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

Whether NextGen Restoration is performing a renovation project for you, or has been brought in by another contractor to do the demolition of the lead contaminated materials, know that you are protected by NextGen. NextGen has attained the “Lead Safe Certified Firm” designation and we follow ALL of the steps necessary to return you structure to a safe indoor environment, EVERY time.

Whether you are a homeowner, contractor, property manager or facilities manager, if you are responsible for renovations, the presence of lead is something you MUST know! Please be aware that most contractors will not check for lead in an effort to offer the lowest price; but at what cost? The health of the occupants?!

At NextGen Restoration, we offer a full and safe complement of services for all of your lead testing and surveying needs.