Page 2 / January 2002 Owners Update

“Question of The Month"

What can I do to get ready for this new lead paint rule that is coming January 10?

This rule is one where an ounce of prevention is well worth a pound of cure. Here are some prevention points to remember.

Know the age of your units. Identify those units that will need paint monitoring. Those built before 1978 could be applicable to the rule, if occupied by children under 6 and/or pregnant mothers. The older a property is, the more likely it is to contain LBP. Those built before 1950 are very likely to contain LBP somewhere.
Develop a maintenance schedule for those identified properties that are likely to contain LBP. Check the painted surfaces on a regular basis, and keep the paint in good repair. In that way, the painted surfaces will not be cited for deteriorating paint, and will not be subject to clearance. You will be complying with the rule, and protecting the occupants from LBP hazards.
Take advantage of training to educate you on the rule and safe work practices to repair paint that protect both workers and occupants. TMHA is currently planning a 1-day paint maintenance seminar for March that will be conducted locally by Quantech Technologies of Virginia, a nationally recognized research and training firm. This comprehensive seminar will be targeted to owners, maintenance workers, contractors, and real estate professionals who wish to understand and manage the lead paint issue, both with the Section 8 program and the real estate market. Look for training details in the next Owner Update issue.
Make use of TMHA’s free HEPA vac. to clean repaired units. Thorough cleaning of dust in pre-1978 housing after maintenance work is vital. We will loan our HEPA to assist you with this job. Just call and schedule use of the vac. We will ask for proof of identity and phone numbers where we can reach you, and you will be asked to watch an 8-minute video on the use of the vac.

Testing of young children to detect elevated lead blood levels is becoming more wide spread. As owners, you will hear more and more about the lead paint issue whether you participate with our Section 8 program or not. We are committed to helping owners understand lead paint, and deal with it. Look for the details of our upcoming March training seminar in the next Update.