New Lead Paint Guidelines
Greetings!
Big news out of Washington as the HUD Office of Healthy Homes & Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) released an updated “Guidelines for the Evaluation of Lead Based Paint Hazards in Housing” (Second Edition, July 2012). These guidelines immediately replace any previous or existing guidance on lead based hazard control.
HUD has prepared a presentation titled “Overview of Updates in the 2012 HUD Guidelines…” dated September 4, 2012. Follow the links or visit environmentaleducation.com for all the details.
EEA President Andy McLellan participated in a HUD briefing on the new Guidelines on Sept 6. Here are some highlights:
1. The 2012 Guidelines incorporate the very latest CDC, EPA, HUD, OSHA and other Federal agency regulations, rules and recommendations pertaining to lead hazard control. Appendix 6 offers a comparison of HUD & EPA lead practices. Chapter 9 (Worker Protection) has been revised consistent with OSHA requirements.
2. Inspection, risk assessment & clearance templates and checklists have been updated and are available in an electronic format within the Guidelines text. HUD recommends that evaluation professionals begin using this format immediately, especially for OHHLHC grant programs
3. New worksite preparation tables are available in Chapter 8. HUD now bases worksite prep on a distinction between HIGH and LOW hazard jobs. HUD Officials reiterate that a clearance examination, including wipe samples, must be completed at the conclusion of all Federally assisted projects.
4. There are several technical adjustment, including a determination that ceramics and other materials where lead may be used in the manufacture of the product, are not to be considered to fall under the definition of lead based paint. This includes baseboards and window blinds that include lead in the manufacturing process.
5. Updated Performance Characteristic Sheets (PCS) for XRF equipment are now included in the Guidelines. HUD officials recommended that PCS for equipment used are included in all risk assessment or inspection reports.
6. There’s a brand new Glossary, which includes details on new terminology and acronyms that have appeared since 1995. The descriptions have been made more “user friendly”.
Lead hazard control professionals will certainly welcome these revisions, which offer a “one-stop” comprehensive understanding of hazard control practices that can be used by property owners, agencies and federally assisted housing programs. It’s been 20 years since Congress passed and GB1 signed Title X. The 1995 Guidelines represented the state of the art for lead hazard control for many years, but lost relevance lately, especially with the on-set on the EPA Renovation, Repair & Painting Rule (RRP).
Twenty years and thousands of hazard control projects offer plenty of insight into what works to protect families from lead exposure. It’s encouraging to see that HUD has stuck with hazard control methods that work.
Count on more later, as we gather information and insight on how the new Guidelines play out. It’s going to take a while to digest 1000 new pages…
Don’t forget to get your training! Here’s what’s happening:
Lead Worker Initial, September 10-11, Rochester
Lead Renovator Initial, September 10, Buffalo
OSHA 10hr Construction Safety, September 12-13, Buffalo
Lead Renovator Initial, September 11, Manhattan
Lead Renovator Initial, September 14, Utica
Lead Renovator Initial September 15, Jamestown
Ever been to DUMBO? It’s NYC’s trendiest place and we’ve got $95.00 asbestos and lead refreshers scheduled at Scarano Architects, 110 York St (right across from the York St station on the F line). Andy Roddick lives right down the street…
Be well!