In 2010, Kansas enacted legislation requiring contractors and landlords to follow Lead Safe Work Practices (LSWP) when remodeling homes and certain commercial entities built prior to 1978. Contractors and landlords must assume lead is present in paint and stains for all pre-78 homes. Contractors are required to complete certification and to conduct their work in compliance with the LSWP. One struggle facing certification for contactors is the lack of local certification classes. The closest available training is in the Wichita area. “We are sponsoring this class so that all contractors and landlords can have convenient access to certification and recertification.” said Matt Hoisington, owner of C&V.  
According to the EPA’s booklet, The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right, “Lead can affect Children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.” While licensed contractors perform a lot of the remodeling projects, landlords commonly do work on their rentals. They, too, need to be certified.  
Hoisington said, “We are very committed keeping our customers and their family safe while we are working in their homes. We are a Lead Safe Renovation Firm and all of our installers are state certified. Our job is to educate the homeowners or tenants on the dangers of lead and to perform our work in a manner that protects them.” The real danger is creating dust. Windows and doors have moving parts. As such, they are especially prone to creating airborne lead, via dust that is disturbed during replacement. “As a Lead Safe firm, we contain the work area using zip walls, minimize the dangerous dust created during projects and we clean up using a heppa vac. We also document our work site practices with photographs.” Hoisington further noted, “Many local contractors are not Lead Safe Certified. Some chose to ignore the law and put their customers in danger. Others report that they simply can’t afford to send their employees to Wichita for certification. We hope that by bringing this training to Great Bend, all contractors will get certified.”
Many contractors completed certification pursuant to the 2010 law. However, certification must be renewed every 5 years. Recertification ($100) will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at KansasWorks, 1107 Main Street, Great Bend. For those needing the initial certification ($150), training will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, at the Front Door, 1615 10th Street, Great Bend. Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials will be on hand to answer questions during the training. “Last fall, KDHE staff attended a recertification class I took. It was really beneficial to speak directly with them. KDHE is not out to bust contractors; but rather to educate them on the dangers of lead dust and help them complete remodeling projects in a safe manner.” said Hoisington.     
Class size is limited to 20 participants. To sign up, contact Matt Hoisington at 620-617-5500 or by email at Matt@CVHIpros.com.