Every child should have a lead safe home. That is why on homes or apartments built before 1978, routine maintenance needs to be performed.  Here are some tips on safely protecting yourself and your children when renovating older homes that could contain lead.  

As of April 2010, federal law requires contractors that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. 

Most homes built before 1978 contain some lead based paint. Lead based paint is more common and was used more extensively in homes built before 1950. Homes built before 1950 also used paint that had a higher concentration of lead. 

In poorly maintained homes, lead based paint, which may be several layers below the surface, flakes and peels off. Paint failure is usually caused by moisture problems, rubbing or impact. Doing renovation can cause lead dust, (which is often invisible) and paint chips, to get on children’s hands and toys which they may put in their mouths. Lead can make children especially under the age of six very sick and cause permanent brain and nerve damage. Lead poisoning can result in learning difficulties and behavior problems. This damage is irreversible, but can be prevented. 

Lead based paint not only is a threat to children but can also pose a threat to workers by causing brain, nervous and reproductive damage, if they don’t protect themselves during uncontrolled or uncontained lead exposure. 

Pregnant women exposed to lead can transfer lead to their unborn baby. 

Knowing the principles helps reduce contamination of family.

·      Assume that homes built before 1978 contains lead.

·     Check Federal, State and Local regulations. OSHA has rules for worker safety.  EPA has rules for proper waste disposal.

·     Avoid creating lead dust. Use low dust work practices (like misting surfaces with water before sanding or scraping. Cover the area under work with durable protective sheeting, (plastic or polyurethane). Keep dust contained to the immediate area.

·     Protect occupants of the home; keeping especially children away from the work area. Clean the work site before they return.

·     Workers need to wear proper respiratory protection for lead dust. Wear disposable suit and shoe covers or at the end of the work day or remove dusty clothes and shoes, washing clothes separately.

·     Clean the area once the work is completed. Take dust wipe samples to make sure that it is safe for family to return to area of work that was done.

·     Keep all surfaces painted, well maintained paint generally does not pose a health risk.

·     Keep floors and painted surfaces clean using a high phosphate wet mop system. Clean rugs and carpet using HEPA filter vacuum, so lead dust just doesn’t blow around. 

After cleanup of the work area, make sure to safely handle and remove dust and debris from the job properly, following EPA standards. 

For a list of certified lead abatement contractors or further information regarding cleaning or renovation, call, the Defiance County Health Department, 419-784-3818