Eieio
March 15th, 2010, 06:59 PM
Shawn McCadden
On the RRP, Practice BEFORE the Game!
What would your clients think if they knew you were practicing lead-safe remodeling for the first time on their home?
Assuming that implementation of the EPA’s RRP (Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting) rule is not delayed, you must begin using lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes starting April 22. I know of only a few remodelers that have actually tried the work practices required under the rule.
If you’re among the vast majority of remodelers who have not practiced the required work practices, most likely you’ll be using the WAG (wild-ass guess) method come April 22. As a result, you’ll be subjecting your business to serious risks and many liabilities. I suggest you ask yourself these questions now:
*How will you build accurate RRP-related costs into estimates for work that you sell now but complete after the law takes effect?
*How will you know that your field employees really learned what to do and how to do it at the RRP training? Did they pay attention in class? Was the instructor effective?
*How will you placate homeowners who are alarmed at watching your employees, donned in white suits, “practicing” new skills for the first time at their home? What about the neighbors who see the caution tape and lead-hazard signs surrounding an exterior project?
*Will you be confident that your employees will Hepa-vac themselves clean every time they leave the work area?
*Will the tape you bought to fasten the plastic to the wall actually keep the plastic in place so no dust falls behind it or migrates into adjacent rooms?
*In doing exterior work, will your employees effectively contain dust or debris to protect the shrubs, flowers, and mulch surrounding your clients’ homes?
*Is your staff prepared to deal with contaminated water pooling on exterior containment plastic as a result of spring rainstorms?
*Can your staff clean effectively enough to then verify their work? Will they know how to document their methods and results?
More at Remodeling online (http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=shawnmccadden&PostId=93298)
On the RRP, Practice BEFORE the Game!
What would your clients think if they knew you were practicing lead-safe remodeling for the first time on their home?
Assuming that implementation of the EPA’s RRP (Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting) rule is not delayed, you must begin using lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes starting April 22. I know of only a few remodelers that have actually tried the work practices required under the rule.
If you’re among the vast majority of remodelers who have not practiced the required work practices, most likely you’ll be using the WAG (wild-ass guess) method come April 22. As a result, you’ll be subjecting your business to serious risks and many liabilities. I suggest you ask yourself these questions now:
*How will you build accurate RRP-related costs into estimates for work that you sell now but complete after the law takes effect?
*How will you know that your field employees really learned what to do and how to do it at the RRP training? Did they pay attention in class? Was the instructor effective?
*How will you placate homeowners who are alarmed at watching your employees, donned in white suits, “practicing” new skills for the first time at their home? What about the neighbors who see the caution tape and lead-hazard signs surrounding an exterior project?
*Will you be confident that your employees will Hepa-vac themselves clean every time they leave the work area?
*Will the tape you bought to fasten the plastic to the wall actually keep the plastic in place so no dust falls behind it or migrates into adjacent rooms?
*In doing exterior work, will your employees effectively contain dust or debris to protect the shrubs, flowers, and mulch surrounding your clients’ homes?
*Is your staff prepared to deal with contaminated water pooling on exterior containment plastic as a result of spring rainstorms?
*Can your staff clean effectively enough to then verify their work? Will they know how to document their methods and results?
More at Remodeling online (http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=shawnmccadden&PostId=93298)