Regulations for Home Repair Companies

EPA, HUD, and OSHA Regulations for Home Repair Companies

There are several regulations for home repair companies whenever you are working on target housing or child occupied facilities.

Target housing is defined as any home or residential unit built on or before December 31, 1977 except:

  1. Housing that is built for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless a child less than 6 years old lives there or is expected to live there).
  2. Zero-bedroom dwellings

Target housing is also referred to as “Pre-1978 housing”

Child-Occupied Facilities are any pre-1978 building or portion of a building that is visited by the same child, under 6 years old; the visits are at least two different days within any week, for at least 3 hours each day and where the combined weekly visits exceed 6 hours and combined annual visits exceed 60 hours.  Schools, child-care facilities, and daycare centers are all examples of child-occupied facilities.

Below we list the different agencies that affect you, and what the basic requirements are:

United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA):

The Environmental Protection Agency published their final Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule on April 22, 2008, under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act (section 402(c)(3) of TSCA).  The final addresses lead-based paint hazards created by renovation, repair, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint in “target housing” and “child-occupied facilities.”  The rule requires:

  1. Renovation firms working in target housing or child occupied facilities built on or before December 31, 1977 be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.  To get certified click here.
  2. At least one person working on the project must be certified by attending an 8 Hour EPA Lead Renovator Initial Training.
  3. All non-certified workers have to be trained in the work practices they will be participating in.
  4. Lead-safety work practices during renovations.
  5. Pre-renovation education in target housing and child occupied facilities.

The good news is the certifications last for 5 years upon completion.  We offer EPA Lead Renovator training currently in 13 states and will travel to you if needed.

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

If you work in Federally-assisted target housing, certain actions are required to address lead hazards. In these cases, the workers must have proper training. HUD has a grant program to state and local governments for funding lead hazard reduction activities.  Check with nearby states and localities to find out if there are any local programs (which may be state or Federally funded) that are designed to address lead hazards.

United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

OSHA has a Lead in Construction Standard which outlines worker protection requirements. Your employer should be aware of these. For more information, on the OSHA Lead in Construction Rule, see 29 CFR 1926.62 (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3142).

State and Local Regulations:

State and local regulations may also apply to the renovation work you do.

 

Regulations for Home Repair Companies

Regulations for Home Repair Companies

For more information on why lead and leaded dust are problematic, we recommend this post from our blog: The Banning of Lead-Based Paint: When and Why?