DCA Promotes Lead Ready Renovation and Maintenance Seminars

Contractors, Maintenance Workers Encouraged to Register for Sessions about Lead Safety


 

TRENTON, NJ -- The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is partnering with the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development to offer Lead Ready Renovation and Maintenance seminars this spring. The training will give people who own, renovate and maintain older housing stock the information and tools they need to make more homes in New Jersey lead safe.

"The DCA has been at the forefront of launching programs to provide education and resources to New Jersey residents in regards to reducing lead-based paint hazards," said DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa. "Exposure to lead remains the single largest environmental threat to the health of children in New Jersey. These seminars are yet another way to tackle this serious issue."

In an effort to reduce costs for attendees, the DCA is subsidizing the lead training classes being conducted by the community college consortium. The Lead Ready seminars will assist property owners of multiple dwelling buildings, maintenance staff and renovation contractors in meeting the lead training requirements of both the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for people doing work on housing built prior to December 31, 1977. Housing built after 1977 is considered lead free because lead-based paint in residential dwellings was banned in 1978.

The 20-hour training includes four certification sessions: EPA Certified Renovator Course, EPA Lead Dust Wipe Technician Course, OSHA Hazard Communications Course, and New Jersey DCA Rules and Regulations on Lead Course. Failure to complete these training and certification classes may result in penalties such as fines and loss of work.

The Lead Ready seminars are critical because the most common place to find lead is in paint in residential units built before 1978. Lead poisoning occurs when high concentrations of lead are found in blood levels. In children, this can result in hyperactivity, learning or behavioral problems. In adults, it can lead to increased blood pressure and digestive, muscle and joint problems.

For more information on lead safety, please visit www.leadsafenj.org or contact the DCA at 1-877-DCA-LEAD.

To register online for the classes, please visit http://shop.njworkforce.org/ or contact the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development at (609) 393-9000.

 

 

###