Thermo-Twin Industries, a window manufacturer and installer, will pay a $25,690 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced March 20.
The Oakmont, Pa.-based firm was cited for failing to abide by RRP's rules when it was renovating three homes in Glenshaw, Latrobe, and Yukon, Pa., an announcement from EPA's Philadelphia office announced. "Company employees failed to take required lead-safe precautions, such as removing objects and covering the work area with plastic or other impermeable sheeting," EPA's announcement said. EPA also alleged that Thermo-Twin employees failed to provide owners and occupants of the homes with an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet before starting renovations.
RRP rules must be followed when there is a possibility that work on dwellings built before 1978 could raise lead-paint dust. Exposure to lead is a health hazard, particularly for the nervous systems of small children.
As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the cited violations, EPA noted.
RRP is a sore point with remodelers nationwide. Many complain the EPA tends to penalize firms for procedural violations rather than pursuing companies that never bothered to get training and certification in lead-safe practices.
