The Rental Property Owners Association (RPOA), in collaboration with the Healthy Homes Coalition and the City of Grand Rapids, is holding a special seminar entitled "Protect Your Rental Properties from Lead Based Paint Liabilities" April 22 at 6:00pm. The seminar will be held at DeVos Place (room Monroe B) in Grand Rapids.
The seminar is being held in response to the new federal Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule that will go into effect that day, as well as the recent Federal lawsuit against two Grand Rapids landlords for non-compliance with federal housing regulations.
GRAND RAPIDS - A full-day training for nurses and other health professionals will be held at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College. Come learn more about what you can do to help prevent childhood lead poisoning in our community!
6.5 contact hours for nurses pending with the Wisconsin Nurses Association.
Beginning April 2010, all renovators, remodelers and painters working in pre-1978 housing will be required to be an EPA-certified renovator trained in lead safe work practices. This requirement will apply to all renovation projects, not just lead abatement. Effected trades include remodelers, renovators, window replacement workers, painters, electricians, plumbers, and any other trades that disturb painted surfaces during the course of their work. Landlords who make repairs themselves will also be required to have this certification.
Making home repairs to fix lead hazards is a job best left to fully trained, state-licensed professionals. However, many homeowners choose to make repairs on their own. If you are considering do-it-yourself repairs, make sure you get training in lead-safe work practices.
Lead-Safe Work Practices training courses are offered through the local Get the Lead Out! collaborative, as well as by others in west Michigan. See the News & Events section of this website for dates and locations.
If you are hiring repairs, be sure to compare at least three bids and talk to the contractors about what they will be doing to make sure your family is protected from lead hazards while and after they work. The Michigan Department of Community Health has some helpful information for parents on its website.
To find a contractor, consult the "Lead Removal" section of the yellow pages. Make sure you check each contractor's certification with the State of Michigan to ensure it is current. The Michigan Department of Community Health also provides a list of currently certified contractors.
There are two primary sources for financing lead hazard repair work in Kent County, Michigan. For more information and eligibility questions, contact one of these organizations:
- City of Grand Rapids Lead Hazard Control Program
- Michigan Department of Community Health Lead Hazard Control Program (200 KB PDF)
The Healthy Homes Coalition offers to assist parents in checking their homes for possible sources of lead hazards. And we can help with setting up interim controls... simple first steps to make your home safe. For more information on how Healthy Homes can help, go to our Programs Page.
If you need further help figuring out where to start or what to do, always feel free to contact the Healthy Homes Coalition at (616) 241-3300.
Making sure children grow up in homes that are healthy and safe is everyone’s job! The Healthy Homes Coalition is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more about specific ways you can help protect children. Connect with us today!
742 Franklin St. SE // Grand Rapids, MI 49507 // 616.241.3300 p // 616.241.3327 f // info@healthyhomescoalition.org
Special thanks to the Dyer-Ives Foundation for their generous support of this website. © 2006-2010 Healthy Homes Coalition.
