Lead Rule Perspective

[afkama]

A roundup of opinions from the internet on the EPA lead rule.

By:
Rick Provost

Much (virtual) ink has been spilled writing about the EPA’s lead-safe work practices rule – a lot of it objecting to the methods and timing. While no serious person would trade profits for the health of children, it is reasonable to question the way in which the EPA is implementing this, as well as the efficacy of the policy itself. Heated rhetoric by environmental and health advocates such as "A bad economy is not a good excuse to poison children,” does little more than polarize the debate and maligns small business owners who will be burdened by a mandate that may fail to achieve its purpose.

Following is a small fraction of the many comments by contractors and other stakeholders found on the Internet, on forums like RemodelCrazy and Contractor Talk, industry organizations’ web sites, and from comments on news stories:

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/lead-safe-practices/lead-rule-perspective.aspx

[Eieio]

Lots of questions posted in the article. Topics we have covered from top to bottom.. I guess we will all have to wait until the rule kicks in and see how homeowners, contractors and the EPA handle it..

Unless someone has a crystal ball??

I am really hoping for the best, shake up of the industry, get rid of the unlicensed guys and sub par competition..

[Silvertree]

I'm glad Rick showed all those posts, it really is a divisive issue. He writes a good column, even if we don't always agree to what he says.

[afkama]

Good job distilling the major points of the controversy Rick.

I think the take away for me with this is that as an industry we need to be more proactive in dealing with issues like this. Lead hazards in homes have been a recognized problem for a long time. We had the opportunity to address this ourselves for decades. Had we done so we would probably have had enough credibility to propose our own remedies instead of having a rule that we find difficult to live with.

This isn't the end of the story, and may in fact just be the beginning. There are other toxic substances that we come into contact with that the healthy homes advocates have in their cross hairs. If we were smart we would try to get out ahead this time.

[Silvertree]

Good points Afkama, and you are correct about one thing I find bothersome and that's the fact we have not as an industry raised our standards voluntarily, its always been the government that told us to work safer, warranty our work and clean up our messes.

Just Monday I looked at an area where the contractor backfilled with foundation pieces from a tear down, the people have to dig down 12 to 14 feet and backfill and compress before putting in a pool now, it should have been easier.

[Bodger]

Good points Afkama, and you are correct about one thing I find bothersome and that's the fact we have not as an industry raised our standards voluntarily, its always been the government that told us to work safer, warranty our work and clean up our messes.

Just Monday I looked at an area where the contractor backfilled with foundation pieces from a tear down, the people have to dig down 12 to 14 feet and backfill and compress before putting in a pool now, it should have been easier.


I've seen things like that get done a the request of a homeowner too though. Sometimes the less desirable money-saving alternatives aren't always the contractor cutting corners.

I have had many a job where I had to fight tooth and nail with architects and HOs alike to prevent doing things the wrong way, even if they weren't code-busters.