LIUNA Training & Education Earns EPA Accreditation for First Lead Renovator Training Program

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules regarding lead paint removal have changed, and LIUNA Training has responded with timely, innovative training to certify workers.

Lead paint poisoning affects over one million children today. Adverse health effects include learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and speech delays. If not done in a lead-safe manner, renovations and repair activities that disturb lead-based paint can expose children, as well as adults, to harmful levels of lead dust.

On April 22, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe work practices aimed at preventing lead poisoning in children. On April 22, 2010, the rule becomes effective and specific work practices to prevent lead contamination must be followed. Firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified. Individual renovators must be trained by an EPA-accredited training provider.

To become a certified renovator, individuals are required to take eight hours of training, of which two hours must be hands-on training.

To address the need for training and certification, LIUNA Training has developed Lead Renovator initial and refresher training materials for our training centers. This is one of the first EPA-recognized, independently developed training program in the country. Based on the EPA's model training program, the LIUNA Training Lead Renovator course exceeds the minimum requirement by offering twice the amount of hands-on training and addressing in detail regulatory requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and EPA.

In addition, LIUNA Training has received EPA accreditation as a national training provider for Lead Renovator training. Beginning April 14, 2010 LIUNA Training will be able to train and certify Lead Renovator instructors throughout the country.

LIUNA Training has also been coordinating directly with EPA headquarters personnel to obtain accreditation for nearly 30 affiliate training sites. Working in concert with the EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, LIUNA Training has provided its approved curriculum as well as standardized administrative documents including Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plans, Examination Blueprints, and Course Syllabi which assure the consistent delivery of its training program nationally.