DIY Lead Poisoning

Dean CRCNA

Quick Overview

Starting in late April, contractors will need to be certified to work in homes that were built before 1978.

The purpose of this law is to train them on how not to cause lead poisoning in the homeowners. Many homes built before 1978 used lead based paint. When a contractor drills, cuts, removes, sands, scrapes or demos a painted surface, they can create dust.

This dust contains lead particles and if swallowed or breathed in by the homeowner ... can cause lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can cause permanent damage.

They are serious about this new law. A contractor can get fined $30,000+ a day, if they are not certified.

While contractors are being trained to protect their homeowners ... no one is talking to the DIYer.

Question To DIYers

Is this something that you would be interested in?

Is it something that you yourself, as a DIYer, would like to know about and how to take precautions?

Do you wish you would have known sooner about this?

Just trying to get a feel about how DIYers feel about this subject.

Leah Frances

- Don't sand dry - preferably don't sand or scrape at all
- coveralls - cover hair - Don't wear work clothes into 'clean' areas
- Wash hands and face after working
- Dust protection - mask

Was more cavalier about this before I met a contractor who had suffered a stroke due to lead poisoning. I will also get a lead level checked before I plan on getting pregnant.

__________________
If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

Termite

EPA's laws tend to point to contractors and not DIYers, although the EPA does have some informative sites online to educate people.

Asbestos, for instance, has to be professionally remediated by a professional in accordance with the EPA's rules if it is to be disturbed by a contractor. The EPA does not require DIYers to have professionals deal with asbestos...Believe it or not.

I haven't read through all the lead paint rules that are coming about, but I presume the same applies.

I've received over a dozen phonecalls from scared professional painters wanting to know if I (a building official) would be enforcing the EPA lead paint regs. Nope. Not mine to enforce.

Safe to say that the price to prep and paint a house (professionally) is going to increase SIGNIFICANTLY.

ARI001

The EPA does not but many localities do. Improper disposal of asbestos by professionals or DIYer's will result in jail time and fines if you are caught.

As to the original post about lead this thread should be shut down as this is just preliminary marketing. Their is information available for free from the epa at www.epa.gov with regards to lead paint.

chrisn

You can say that again. With the economy the way it is, it is going to force innumerable legitimate contractors out of business, myself included. It will be just too expensive for me to abide by all these laws and to stay in business

Termite

Could be, and I'm watching it. It is on a short leash. Could just be that the OP is knowledgeable and eager to help.

Termite

I hear that all the time and in this case I definitely agree. Sad fact is that legit contractors that follow the rules will be run out of town on a rail because in a competitive bid situation, they'll cost significantly more if they're following EPA rules. There's always going to be a crew that doesn't follow the rules and will be 30% cheaper, and your average homeowner isn't all that worried about lead paint on the outside of their house.

Same goes for OSHA. I watched a number of residential foundation companies get $10,000+++ fines from OSHA a few years ago when they started actively (and sneakily) enforcing their ridiculous rules such as the ones requiring the foundation crews to erect a tie-off fall prevention system above their forms.

Some of these rules get in the way of productivity and normal common sense that simply must exist in construction.

Scuba_Dave

What happens if the old trim is removed & disposed of ?
I would assume that proper disposal is required if it contains lead ?
Every house around here that I see renovated they strip all the old trim off the outside
My house had (almost) all the trim removed when they did vinyl siding years ago

rusty baker

As a flooring installer, it won't affect us much, except wood floor refinishers. Some of the old hardwood finishes contained lead.

__________________
"I'm twisted, not sick. Sick implies, I'll get better"
Semi-Retired Installer
Installing since 1973

Dean CRCNA

A DIYer can dispose of normally. The big problem is the dust created during removal.

Dean CRCNA

The time it would affect you (pro), is

1. If you removed baseboards/quarter round
2. Remove old hardwood flooring