Lead Training Offered
By Joseph Orovic
Under strict new EPA rules that take effect April 22, certification is required for all home improvement activity that disturbs more than six square feet of interior surface or 20 square feet of exterior surface. Federal law requires contractors performing renovations, repairs and paint jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities provide owners, tenants and child care with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet before beginning any work.To help the profession adjust to the change, the Federation of NY Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums hosted a seminar at North Shore Towers in "Towers on the Green" to inform and educate the companies responsible for all residential buildings of the new regulations.
Environmental Education Associates, which took part in the meeting, is among the first to be accredited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to train and certify workers to recognize and deal with these hazards.
"The EPA changed a whole bunch of regulations and that's why the new rule is going to take effect," said William Vazquez of HANAC, an organization providing free certification classes since February.
The new regulations range from proper work safety practices to storage, removal and disposal of any materials removed during renovation or any other work done.
All employees of all buildings (co-ops, condos and rental properties) that control the work done in these buildings must be certified. These people include the superintendents, handymen, boards of directors/board of managers, management company employees and any people that prepare contracts for work to be done.
FNYHC is conducting training classes for Certification for all who are required to have this permit. The classes are eight hours and require a test at the end of the training period. To learn more, call Mona Shyman at (718) 423- 4438 or e-mail to mhsconsultants1@gmail.com for the schedule and location of each class.
The classes are conducted by EPA certified and licensed trainers. According to the EPA, the fines and penalties are $32,500 per violation for non-conforming.
Reach Reporter Joseph Orovic at jorovic@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 127.