When Home Depot was fined 20 Million dollars for lead violations in the spring of 2021, I have to admit, I was surprised. I didn’t expect that from this company. Over the years I have spoken at HUD and EPA events and conferences around Lead Poisoning Prevention and Regulations, and I have met some Home Depot executives there. They are good people. They were there to learn and they seemed invested in making sure the company followed the rules. I talked with them about their policies and training, and I believe that those individuals are concerned about the safety of the people in the homes where their contractors do installs and renovations.
I didn’t want to “weigh in” on the Home Depot fine, when it was issued, partly because of the people I had met from the company, and partly because I didn’t know enough about it.
Subsequently, I have attended an EPA presentation on the case, and I have been contacted by several families wondering about the renovations they had done by HD subcontractors. I have also been contacted by contractors not sure how this affects their ability to work for HD.
So here is what I understand. Yes, there were some problems with many HD installs around the country. Sadly, some of our local contractors in MA, ME and NH were caught up in the mess. There are several protocols in place to protect homeowners, tenants and contractors as the story unfolds. HD is not the only situation in which these precautions and regulations apply. They apply to all of us, all the time.
If you are a homeowner, or property owner and your house or apartment building is built before 1978, and you are hiring someone to do work for you that “disturbs paint” you need to ask the renovator if they have RRP certification. The fines for not having this certification, or for hiring someone not certified can be very steep, in excess of $40,000 per violation. I’m not saying the average homeowner would be fined for not knowing that the contractor was certified – but if you are a landlord, or a General Contractor hiring subs, or someone in the renovation business you are required to hire certified professionals. Just ask to see their RRP card, and be sure it has not expired.
Also, if you are a contractor, and your work involves disturbing paint (what is disturbing? Cutting, Scraping, Sanding, Aggressively Washing) YOU must have this certification. Please note – it doesn’t say disturbing lead paint. If you are disturbing ANY paint, in a house built before 1978 you must have this certification. There are a very few exceptions to this (studio/efficiency apartments, senior citizen complexes, your own primary residence)
Basically, you take the class in order to learn how to test for lead, and what the exceptions are. The class is not expensive – a couple hundred dollars from most training providers, and that covers you for 5 years. The fines are in the tens of thousands of dollars if you do not comply and EPA audits you.
Here’s an important fact. EPA does not have to come to your job site in order to fine you. They have up to THREE YEARS after the completion of your job to reach out to you and ask to see your records. What records you ask? You must take the class to learn that too. It’s a no brainer! Take the class!
Two more quick things and a link to a lot more info below.
This is NOT lead abatement. That is an entirely different certification. You can learn more about the difference here www.leadpaintclearandsimple.com or here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQnxswQ30jBZ4Ww_Z0YCCgA
Home Depot is doing some education around this problem and paying huge fines. You can still hire their contractors, and work for the company. But please, if you are a contractor, get your RRP certification, and if you are a homeowner, make sure the contractor working in your house has their RRP certification. Lead Poisoning affects kids and pets and adults. It can be permanent – and it’s preventable.
Kate Kirkwood
Lead Paint Clear and Simple
www.leadpaintclearandsimple.com
kate@kkirkwod.com