As the world now knows, lead has the potential to be a dangerous poison. However, before the human race became aware of this danger, lead was used in products like paint. Now, humans are faced with the task of removing this poison in the safest possible manner. The new Epa lead renovation rule teaches people how to safely remove lead from the everyday environment.

The training and licensing for the safe removal of lead is meant to protect both the people doing the removal, those in the surrounding area, and the environment. The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency is the legal body that regulates and creates these standards. Those “disrupting” surfaces that were painted before 1978 must be certified in lead removal and management before undertaking the task. Disruption can include demolition, scraping and repainting, or similar work. Certification is required for all of the workers that will be involved with the job, and the company itself will have to be regulated.

Lead based paints were a commonplace before 1978. Since then, it has been discovered that lead is very dangerous, especially for children. It is recommended that surfaces in a home or other building be tested for lead paint if the paint job was done before ’78. If the material is found to be positive for lead, it should be removed by a certified professional in the proper manner as dictated by the EPA.

One interested in becoming certified should check with the EPA to help them find the closest training center. Certification teaches one to properly seal the area being worked on, to minimize dust, and to complete a thorough clean up at the end of each work day and once the job is over.

Lead removal certification is a step towards safety that can improve the quality of a project and preserve the health of those involved and in the surrounding area.

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