Lead-Based Paint in Schools

In This Section:

What Schools Need to Know About Lead-based Paint

Children can come in contact with lead in many ways. Exposure to lead can slow down growth, development, and learning and can cause behavior problems in children. Children absorb lead more easily than adults so they are at special risk. The major source of lead poisoning in Vermont children is lead dust from chipping or peeling lead-based paint. Children can also be exposed to lead during renovation projects or whenever lead-based paint is improperly sanded, scraped or burned.

It is important to know about lead hazards to protect students and staff from coming in contact with it. Implementing lead safety into school renovation plans is an important step to lower the overall risk. Assume lead-based paint is in schools built before 1978. The risk of lead poisoning can be reduced when schools are maintained in a way that lowers or eliminates sources of lead — such as lead-contaminated soil, lead dust, and chipping or peeling lead-based paint.

School Renovation Projects

Renovation projects can create lead dust. When maintaining and renovating lead-based painted surfaces in schools built before 1978, the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend lead-safe work practices.

Unsafe work practices that disturb lead-based paint will create lead hazards (see Section 2.2.28). Under Vermont law, if lead hazards are created in any building or structure, you will be responsible for the cleanup that will require you to hire a Vermont-licensed lead abatement contractor.

Schools must hire Vermont Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, Painting and Maintenance (RRPM) contractors to perform renovation and repair work that will disturb painted surface greater than 1 square foot per interior room or exterior side of building if children age 6 and under attend the school.

Learn about Vermont Lead-Safe RRPM and where to find RRPM contractors

Vermont Lead Law for Child Care Providers in Schools

Some schools are also sites for child care facilities. In Vermont, Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices are required for all pre-1978 child care facilities. IRC Practices are relatively inexpensive maintenance activities that property owners or property managers must do to reduce lead-based paint hazards and inspect the property for chipping or peeling lead-based paint.

Find out what you need to know about IRC Practices

Child care providers must hire Vermont Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, Painting and Maintenance (RRPM) contractors, or become certified to do the work themselves, if there is renovation and repair work that will disturb painted surface greater than 1 square foot per interior room or exterior side of building.

Learn about Vermont Lead-Safe RRPM and where to find RRPM contractors

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