LEAD PAINT POISONING PREVENTION: RENOVATION, REPAIR, AND PAINTING WORKSHOPS FOR BUSINESSES

DOVER (May 5, 2015) - The Delaware Division of Public Health invites businesses to attend free Renovation, Repair, and Painting compliance workshops offered statewide. Individuals and firms performing lead-based paint activities in the State of Delaware must be certified by the Division of Public Health (DPH). Children poisoned by exposure to lead paint dust can suffer lower intelligence, behavior problems, and learning disabilities. Women who are pregnant are at risk of harming their developing fetus when exposed to lead paint dust. And all adults exposed to lead paint dust can suffer from nervous system effects, high blood pressure, fertility problems, and even kidney damage.

"It is important for businesses to understand the new safe work practice standards adopted by Delaware," said Division of Public Health Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. "Repairs that create even a small amount of lead dust are enough to poison children and put all family members at risk. If homes, apartments or daycare centers were built before 1978, untrained workers could spread lead paint dust when doing even minor repairs."

Workshops will be held on three dates:

• New Castle County - Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Fox Run Office Complex, 2540 Wrangle Hill Road (Routes 72 and 40), Bear, DE 19701.
• Kent County - Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., DPH Training Center, Edgehill Training Center, 43 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
• Sussex County - Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., First State Community Action, Stanford L. Bratton Bldg., 308 N. Railroad Ave., Georgetown, DE 19947.

The DPH Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program oversees enforcement of lead regulations in Delaware and monitors compliance of the regulated community, including individuals, firms, and training providers.

Attendees to this free Renovation, Repair, and Painting compliance workshop will receive information on maintaining proper records and given forms to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements. Registrants will receive advice from an experienced program auditor and will take home tips on documenting receipt of the "Renovate Right" pamphlet, current work site requirements, and sample marketing materials.

The Renovator Workshops are free, but seating is limited. Registration includes a free continental breakfast and a complimentary lead test kit for the first 25 to register at each location. To register, contact Jo Ann Freddo at joann.freddo@delaware.gov or 302-744-4772.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit delawarerelay.com

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.