Feeling a little slow? Maybe, you’re a renovator!
Lead-safe renovation training and EPA or state certification is the law. * But, there are those that say, “Not for long!” and those that say, “Government regulation is strangling construction”, and still those that say, “The science is not in yet on the dangers of lead poisoning”.* These are the common arguments used against lead-safe training and certification for Renovators of all trades.
There are rumblings that the United States Environmental Protection Agency will be dissolved due to the influence of the Tea Party.* This would occur on the premise that a free, unregulated market will naturally find the right path without government intervention.* To those that are avoiding the required Renovation, Repair, and Painting training for this reason, this is the very moment for which you argue.* 310,000 American children become lead poisoned each year.* Many due to microscopic lead paint dust left in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities by renovations. *
How do we know this?* A 1992 law, passed by congress and signed by George Herbert Walker Bush requires Doctors to report lead poisoning to local health departments.* These health departments are charged with determining what causes the lead poisoning.* Our health departments remove the poisoned children from their homes for a few weeks and test their blood for lead again.* If the blood-lead level goes down, the house is the problem.* If not, they take them out of school, and so on.* Using this method of removing poisoned children from situations and testing has proven to be very accurate.* This is how Chinese toys were found to contain lead.* Today, more than not, poisoned children come from older homes that have recently been renovated.* The science is in!
The United States of America is the only country on earth with this magnitude of childhood lead poisoning.* Why?* We painted using leaded paint 50 years longer than almost all other countries on Earth.* Most of that paint is still in place.* It’s not particularly dangerous having been painted over and over again with non-lead paint.* That is, until we arrive with our reciprocating saws, sledge hammers, drills, etc.* An amount of lead as small as the contents of one single sugar packet spread over a large area can seriously damage a child for LIFE.
A lead poisoned child has learning problems, is irritable, is more likely to drop out of school, commit crime, and is more likely to have Attention Deficit Disorder. * This is with light exposure.* Others become comatose and some die.
Lead doesn’t just affect children.* If you are a renovator or are around a renovation, you may feel a little slow.* Your memory may not be what it was.* You may make regrettable decisions without understanding why.* You may be quick tempered.* The dust you bring home may affect your wife, children and grand kids.
So, whatever your opinion of government intervention, it’s time to stop injuring our children, your children and yourself.* Get the training.* Prove the point that you don’t need regulating.* Given the facts, you will do the right thing!
By the way, the current RRP rule was promulgated and set in motion by George W. Bush, that includes the $37,500.00 fine and prison sentences for non-compliance.
Please, do the right thing for the right reasons.* Don’t make the argument that you should be allowed to damage children because . . . ** It just doesn’t make sense!
Jim Stump
800-966-9933*
