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- LSU AgCenter to offer Lead-safe Renovator class
(05/18/17) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center will hold its next Lead-Safe Certified Renovator Training course on May 25.
Claudette Reichel, LaHouse director and extension housing specialist, said lead-contaminated water has appeared frequently in recent news reports, but lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 is a far more common source of serious lead poisoning.
“The risk is especially high when home repairs and remodeling activities disturb lead paint,” Reichel said.
Very low levels of lead in children can cause damage to brains and other organs. Lead poisoning can lead to learning and behavior disorders, impaired hearing and other developmental health effects without any symptoms of poisoning.
Contractors who work on pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities are required by the Environmental Protection Agency Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule to be certified and use lead-safe work practices.
“LaHouse offers this program as part of its healthy homes educational outreach initiative,” Reichel said.
Individual certification is good for five years from the date of course completion. Non-compliance with RRP puts the contractor at risk of substantial EPA penalties and liability in the event of lead poisoning, Reichel said. Upon completion of the one-day class, attendees may take the RRP certification exam on the same day.
LaHouse Resource Center is an approved trainer through EnviroEd, a nationwide EPA-accredited RRP training provider. The class also qualifies for continuing education units for Louisiana Residential Contractors.
Course registration includes the course booklet, hands-on activities and exam. Participants who pass the exam will receive official EPA certificates from EnviroEd. Registration, course fees and further information about the classes and the RRP rule are available at www.lsuagcenter.com/LaHouse. For additional questions, email lahouse@agcenter.lsu.edu.