National Lead Safe Training: Next Generation

NPCA’s “Next Generation” Program for Public Education and Outreach on Lead-based Paint

As a result of the exceptional positive reception to the association’s community outreach efforts on lead hazard awareness and contractor education under the cooperative NPCA - State Attorneys General Agreement, NPCA has launched a new support initiative.  Known as the “Next Generation” Program for Public Education and Outreach on Lead-based Paint, the program will continue to work with the many state and local agencies and advocacy groups encountered over the past four years. NPCA’s focus under the new program will be to offer to meet demand for training, and work closely with recognized university-based organizations seeking to develop innovative strategies on lead poisoning prevention.  To bolster this effort, NPCA’s new contractor for the program, The Training Network, Inc. has forged a relationship with the Community Lead Education and Reduction Corps program (CLEARCorps, see www.clearcorps.org)  to provide community outreach support. The Training Network staff includes the full team that supported the Agreement program activities over the past four years, and integrates the regional training resources that were critical to program success.

While the “Next Generation” program continues to advance the goal of lead hazard awareness, NPCA has encouraged its members to continue to promote awareness through the same product labeling and distribution of point-of-sale brochures offered during the State Attorneys General agreement.  This is necessary for several reasons in addition to consumer education; first the label continues to direct consumers to the EPA Hotline number for more and detailed information on lead hazard control; and second, the brochures provided remain useful for contractors to meet their pre-renovation information disclosure requirements under EPA regulations. CLEARCorps plans to support the “Next Generation” effort by establishing close relationships with community organizations that have a need for industry services. For additional information, contact Steve Sides or Tom Graves of the NPCA staff.  

Lead Safe Work Practices Training

The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA), through the services of The Training Network, continues to offer a one day Lead-Based Paint Training Program for Renovators and Remodelers which conforms to the HUD-EPA curriculum. Details on the training program schedule and registration information can be found at www.leadsafetraining.org or by calling The Training Network at 877-476-2299.

NPCA On-line Retailer Lead Education Program

NPCA has developed a brief on-line education program to help retail salespersons learn more about lead-based paint hazards that can emerge during typical renovation and remodeling activities, including repainting.  The principle message of the education program is that repainting can be done safely when simple precautions are followed to minimize the generation of lead dust. Users of the on-line training tool will follow a simple series of tutorials designed to generate awareness of important government agency resources that will help customers be "lead safe".  

Product labeling for lead surface preparation hazards developed under the NPCA-State Attorneys General Agreement has been integrated into the NPCA Labeling Guide (Fifth Edition), with background information on the label construct and required content for various container sizes.  The Consumer Paints Lead-Surface Preparation Warning included in the Agreement is as follows:

WARNING! If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO LEAD DUST CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH AS BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID EXPOSURE. Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator to control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with a HEPA vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to protect yourself and your family by contacting the National Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to www.epa.gov/lead.

NPCA continues to advocate distribution of a point-of-sale brochure (in English and Spanish) that conveys information on how to address concerns about lead-based paint. The brochure also provides information needed by contractors to comply with the EPA’s Lead Pre-renovation Education (Lead PRE) rule as well as additional EPA information (Keep it Clean) on lead-safe work practices for both consumers and contractors.  (NOTE:  Both of these EPA brochures are currently under agency revision and are subject to change. NPCA is aware of this effort and will be updating the point-of-sale brochure once the agency has finalized the content.  In the meantime, NPCA members are encouraged to continue distributing the current brochure.  Supplies of the brochure are currently available from:

Brady-Palmer Label Corporation
Chris Morris
1791 Route 6
Carmel, NY 10512
800-783-3097

NPCA can also provide camera-ready copy of the brochure for members to undertake their own printing (Contact Steve Sides of the NPCA Staff).

Point-of-Sale Brochure (English)  - PDF 1.9 MB
Point-of-Sale Brochure (Spanish) - PDF 1.9 MB