Registration Open for

Lead Ready Renovation and Maintenance Seminars

Training for People Who Own, Renovate or Maintain Pre-1978 Housing Stock


 

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa is urging people who own, renovate or maintain pre-1978 housing stock to attend Lead Ready Renovation and Maintenance seminars being offered through the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development through the end of 2011. So far, more than 500 people have been trained.

"Registration for classes is open and space is available. We encourage people to take advantage of the opportunity and obtain the credentials they need to perform renovation, repair or maintenance work on buildings with lead," Commissioner Grifa said. "Exposure to lead is a serious environmental threat and these classes are an effective way to tackle the issue."

The DCA is partnering with the Consortium to provide the training. The seminars will give those involved with older housing stock in New Jersey the training and certification they need to ensure more homes in New Jersey are lead safe and in compliance with both Federal and State Regulations governing lead-safe work practices. In an effort to reduce costs to attend these sessions, the DCA is subsidizing the lead training classes.

The following groups of people should take the seminars:

  • Multiple dwelling (3 or more dwelling units) owners who work on their pre-1978 built properties;

  • Home improvement contractors who work on pre-1978 built housing, child care facilities and schools;

  • Plumbing/heating/electrical contractors who work on pre-1978 housing when they disturb more than 2 square feet of paint; and

  • Maintenance workers who disturb more than 2 square feet of paint during work on pre-1978 housing.

The Lead Ready seminars will assist these groups 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. Please note that it is important that certification of this training is required. Failure to obtain the training and certification could prevent someone from performing the 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.

###