BATON ROUGE, La. – The next lead-certified renovator training class will be held at the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 16.

Earlier this year, the EPA announced its plans to increase lead safety and awareness, according to Claudette Reichel, LSU AgCenter housing specialist.

“The lead renovation, repair and painting (RRP) rule requires contractors who disturb paint in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities to be lead-certified professionals,” Reichel said.

As part of its educational outreach initiative to shape healthy homes in the Gulf Coast region and to assist contractors in complying with RRP requirements, the LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Resource Center conducts periodic lead-certified renovator training classes.

Proper lead-safe techniques lower the risk of lead contamination caused by renovation and repair activities, which can be hazardous to the health of both contractors and occupants, Reichel said.

This course will educate and prepare contractors and workers with an unbiased, science-based working knowledge of lead hazards and procedures to ensure safety.

“Upon completion of this course, attendees will be eligible to take the RRP certification test, administered through the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), a nationwide EPA-accredited RRP training provider,” Reichel said. It is also qualifies for eight CEUs for Louisiana residential contractors.

Course registration includes the course booklet, hands-on activities and certification test. Individuals who complete the course and pass the certification test will receive official certificates from NCHH.

Registration, course fees and further information about the class and the RRP rule are available by going to www.lsuagcenter.com/LaHouse and clicking on the seminars and events page. For additional information, call 225-578-2378 or email lahouse@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Johnny Morgan