Ref. 3156

Pursuant to an Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) ruling on November 2009, all contractors who work on property built before 1978 must now become certified as a Lead Safe Renovator (LSR).  To provide assistance for area contractors who will need to comply with this ruling, North Iowa Area Community College will offer both the 8-hour LSR initial training and certification course along with the 4-hour LSR refresher course.

This new IDPH regulation will go into effect April 22, 2010, and is a requirement under recently adopted rules of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In Iowa the statewide prevalence of lead poisonings is at 7% for children under six years of age, four times the national average of 1.6% for the same age group. The EPA created the lead pre-renovation education rule to mitigate potential lead exposure which could occur during renovations of housing containing lead-based paint.

Individuals who are required to obtain certification include contractors that work on residential properties, child-occupied facilities, general contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, landlords and self-employed handymen.  Common activities like sanding, cutting and demolition can create hazards that include lead dust and chips created when lead-based paint is disturbed. 

For contractors who need the complete training and certification module, they should plan to attend the 8-hour LSR Initial Training and Certification course that will be offered Saturday, April 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room CB122 of the Buettner Careers Building on the NIACC Campus.

Instructors will review work practices that a lead-safe renovator must follow, including: Signs that warn occupants not to enter the work area; Dust and debris are contained to the work area; waste material is contained, stored and transported safely; Work area is cleaned; Work area passes post-renovation cleaning verification or clearance testing with dust samples; and Complete records are maintained for the project.

Three opportunities for contractors to participate in the LSR Refresher course will be offered at the NIACC Campus.  The course will be held on March 23, March 24 and March 25 in the Buettner Careers Building Room CB122, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  If a contractor has completed the Lead Safe Work Practices training, IDPH will allow him/her to grandfather into the Renovator Certification with this 4-hour upgrade course. 

Advance registration for both courses is required.  Please call 1-888 GO NIACC, ext. 4358, to register.  Tuition for the 8-hour LSR initial training and certification is $249, and the 4-hour LSR refresher tuition is $219.  Upon successful completion of the required course, participants will receive the Renovator Certification and the no-cost application to IDPH as required by EPA policy.

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