Being Lead-Safe

SGB Custom Painting is your Lead Certified Painting Contractor in Chico, California. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made it a priority to reduce the exposure to lead. On April 22, 2010, the federal law requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb more than six square feet of paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and trained to follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

These exposures can be very damaging to children whose nervous systems are still developing, and can also be a threat to a pregnanat woman with her unborn child. Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States today.

SGB Custom Painting strives on ensuring that our customers are in the safest environment at all times when performing our painting projects. There are numerous steps to take to meet all the EPA regulations when performing work on lead paint in homes. Our professional staff is trained to effectively protect you, your home, and its surroundings while working with lead paint and dust that may accumulate during renovations.

Please be advised that the business or homeowner should ask any potential contractor their position of their EPA licensing. It is the law but because there is such a high cost and many steps to take to become EPA certified, some contractors may try to avoid such certification.

If you have not heard about lead based paint, now is the time to educate yourself on its dangers and what it means for you and your family. Please read some facts below and feel free to call us or visit our website http://sgbpainting.com/ with any questions or concerns you may have. We will be happy to send you a lead-safe certified guide. We look forward to hearing from you!

THE FACTS ABOUT LEAD:

FACT: Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.

FACT: Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible.

FACT: Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978.

FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.

REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT LEAD BASED PAINT:

• Do you reside in a home built before 1978?

• Do you own or operate a child care facility, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, built before 1978?

• Do you have a child under six years of age who attends a child care facility built before 1978?


WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S EXPOSURE TO LEAD:

• Call your local health department for advice on reducing and eliminating exposures to lead inside and outside your home, child care facility or school.

• Always use lead-safe work practices when renovation or repair will disturb painted surfaces.

• A blood test is the only way to find out if you or a family member already has lead poisoning. Call your doctor or local health department to arrange for a blood test. For more information about the health effects of exposure to lead, visit the EPA lead website at ww.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm or call 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).


IT IS THE LAW!

Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification.

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating more than six square feet of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

• Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you a pamphlet (from the EPA) before starting work.

• Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, and the families of children under six years of age that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.