Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of the HGTV hit show, Fixer Upper, settled with the EPA for alleged Lead Paint Violations.
Their company, Magnolia Homes, agreed to settle with the EPA by paying a fine of $40,000 and performing $160,000 in lead-abatement projects in homes or child-occupied facilities with an outside independent abatement firm.
The EPA was asking for lead paint fines of $795,080 and accusing the company of 187 violations in 33 vacant home renovation projects completed prior to December 2015. Alleged violations included:
- Lack of Firm Certification,
- Failure to deliver the Renovate Right to the homeowner prior to beginning work,
- Failure to assign a Certified Renovator to the job,
- Failure to Contain the Work Area,
- Failure to Contain Waste, and
- Failure to Document Lead-Safe Work Practices
According to the EPA, “shortly after being contacted by the EPA three years ago, Magnolia Homes took immediate steps to bring its activities into compliance.”
Magnolia Homes also implemented a compliance program including a “renovation record-keeping checklist for use by their staff and subcontractors.”
Despite their efforts to cooperate with the EPA, fines were demanded.
How to Protect Yourself
Could your company withstand this type of scrutiny? Afford the legal bills? Ask yourself:
- How is your documentation?
- Are your workers trained?
- Are your subcontractors Certified?
- Is your Firm Certification current?
- Do you have your records for the last 3 years?
You can access the pre-renovation notification, all of the paperwork to document your jobs and the links to register your company as a Certified Firm at https://www.leadclasses.com/forms-downloads/
This is your insurance and best of all, it’s 100% free.
If you need a class for any of your team you can find your closest class at www.LeadClasses.com