Lead (Pb) Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, June 1^st, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a settlement with a company for failing to comply with federal lead-based paint requirements. The Texas-based firm will pay over $48,000 in penalties for residential remodeling work done in San Diego, California.

According to the EPA notice, the subcontractors hired to perform the work failed to comply with the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which requires them to take steps to protect the public from exposure to lead (Pb). The violations pertained to work performed by the firm and its subcontractors at multiple homes in the San Diego area.

An EPA inspection found the company did not ensure the subcontractors it hired were EPA-certified to perform such work in pre-1978 housing where lead-based paint is assumed to be present. The company also failed to keep records indicating compliance with lead-safe work practices, failed to actually comply with some of those work practices, failed to provide owners with the required “Renovate Right” pamphlet, and failed to ensure that a certified renovator was involved in the lead-based paint renovations.

The RRP Rule was created to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards that occur during repair or remodeling activities in homes and child-occupied facilities, such as schools, that were built before 1978. The rule requires that individuals performing renovations be properly trained and certified, and follow lead-safe work practices.

“Lead poisoning is a real risk in residential renovation projects for the families that live there and for workers if the proper safety precautions are not followed,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Lead poisoning is preventable. Our California laboratories offer lead and other heavy metal testing services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits and even personal protective equipment. These services and products not only help to safeguard people from lead exposure, they can also be essential for keeping companies in regulatory compliance.”

To learn more about lead or other environmental and industrial hygiene testing services and products, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. For access to lead and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.