March 22, 2011 – Olympia, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce announced today that it has begun administration and enforcement of new rules designed to protect children from lead-based paint poisonings. Washington State’s approach to these nationwide rules for lead-safe work practices focuses on training and education.
Washington is the 11th state, and the largest west of the Mississippi, to take over management of the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new nationwide rule requires that construction and maintenance professionals who perform renovation, repair and painting work in housing, child-care facilities and schools built before 1978 must use “lead-safe work practices.”
Washington has also added a $25 per student fee to every Lead Certification Class taught in the state.