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A Decade of Lead, What Have We Learned

On November 4, 1993, OSHA’s Lead in Construction Standard became the law of the land.  Initially, (and to some extent today) the small residential contractor community reacted with complete outrage due to marketability fears, many claiming that they would simply stop working on “old houses.”  Industrial contractors along with the larger residential and commercial contractors often at first ignored or complied in a lackadaisical manner with these laws, continuing to work “as it’s always been done.”  

Product Number: 41206-273-SG
Author: Burt Olhiser
Publication Date: 2006
Industry: Coatings
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$20.00
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On November 4, 1993, OSHA’s Lead in Construction Standard became the law of the land.  Initially, (and to some extent today) the small residential contractor community reacted with complete outrage due to marketability fears, many claiming that they would simply stop working on “old houses.”  Industrial contractors along with the larger residential and commercial contractors often at first ignored or complied in a lackadaisical manner with these laws, continuing to work “as it’s always been done.”  But as time went on this latter group embraced these mandates and in greater numbers so did the small residential community as the new business opportunities presented by this legislation became clearer. Even though few fully understood the complexities these and subsequent additional federal and local “lead-laws” would have for their projects. This article addresses how the industry has learned to deal with these rules and what “state of the art” work practices and behaviors have been developed to control the hazards and liabilities incurred when dealing with lead-based paints in “non-abatement” or “HUD” work environments. It will also address new lead-based paint rulemaking currently in development that's targeted at remodeling and renovation contractors.  It is assumed that readers are at least minimally aware of the basic tenets of OSHA’s regulation as well as related regulations by EPA, HUD and local authorities that govern both environmental and worker protection issues when disturbing lead-based paints.  It does not endeavor to explain these items in detail but does point interested parties to sources for this information.  

On November 4, 1993, OSHA’s Lead in Construction Standard became the law of the land.  Initially, (and to some extent today) the small residential contractor community reacted with complete outrage due to marketability fears, many claiming that they would simply stop working on “old houses.”  Industrial contractors along with the larger residential and commercial contractors often at first ignored or complied in a lackadaisical manner with these laws, continuing to work “as it’s always been done.”  But as time went on this latter group embraced these mandates and in greater numbers so did the small residential community as the new business opportunities presented by this legislation became clearer. Even though few fully understood the complexities these and subsequent additional federal and local “lead-laws” would have for their projects. This article addresses how the industry has learned to deal with these rules and what “state of the art” work practices and behaviors have been developed to control the hazards and liabilities incurred when dealing with lead-based paints in “non-abatement” or “HUD” work environments. It will also address new lead-based paint rulemaking currently in development that's targeted at remodeling and renovation contractors.  It is assumed that readers are at least minimally aware of the basic tenets of OSHA’s regulation as well as related regulations by EPA, HUD and local authorities that govern both environmental and worker protection issues when disturbing lead-based paints.  It does not endeavor to explain these items in detail but does point interested parties to sources for this information.  

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