Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention - Choosing A Lead Certification

Which Lead Certificate Should I Get?
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The type of certificate you should get depends on the type of lead-related construction activities you plan to do. CDHS certification is now required for all those doing lead hazard evaluations, lead abatement plan preparation, lead abatement work and lead clearance inspections for residential and public buildings in California (Title 17, CCR § 35001-35050 and § 36000-36100).

Make sure you have completed the required training, experience and education before applying for a Lead Certificate. More information on eligibility and training is provided in the application forms and instructions or by calling the Lead-Related Construction Information Line at 1-800-597-LEAD (Outside California, dial 510-620-5694.)

Inspector/Assessor (I/A) Certificate

The I/A certificate is for those who plan to inspect buildings for lead and assess the type of lead hazards in those buildings. This may include:

Taking paint-chip, dust or soil samples or using an XRF machine to test painted surfaces.
Conducting visual inspections to examine the condition of painted surfaces and the location of lead hazards in the building.
Interpreting laboratory and XRF test results.
Preparing reports on the amount of lead hazards in a building and the risks of lead poisoning to the building occupants.
Recommending cost effective ways to safely handle the lead hazards.
Insuring no lead hazards remain after lead abatement work or other construction work where lead is present.

Under California's Title 17 regulations, a certified Inspector/Assessor:

may perform lead hazard evaluations , including
- lead paint inspections
- lead risk assessments
- clearance inspections.
may not
- prepare lead abatement plans.
- perform lead abatement activities.

Project Designer (PD) Certificate

The PD certificate is for those who plan to prepare specifications, detailed designs and cost estimates for lead-related construction projects. This may include:

Visiting the site and reviewing inspection reports to determine and select the proper abatement, clearance and lead waste disposal methods.
Working with consultants, industrial hygienists, journeymen, engineers and housing specialists to develop the project specifications.
Preparing project cost estimates and suggesting strategies for reducing costs.

Under California's Title 17 regulations, a certified Project Designer...

may prepare lead abatement plans.

may not perform lead abatement activities.
may not perform lead hazard evaluations , including clearance inspections.

Project Monitor (PM) Certificate

The PM certificate is for those who plan to oversee lead-related construction work to ensure that specifications are followed. This may include:

Working with consultants, industrial hygienists, journeymen, engineers and housing specialists to develop the project specifications.
Performing air monitoring to assess exposure levels and dust wipe sampling to ensure adequacy of containment.
Conducting clearance testing at the end of the project to see if any lead contamination remains
Checking work activities for compliance with Federal, State and local regulatory requirements

Under California's Title 17 regulations, a certified Project Monitor

may prepare lead abatement plans
may conduct clearance inspections

may not perform lead abatement activities
may not supervise individuals performing lead abatement activities
may not perform lead hazard evaluations except for clearances

Supervisor Certificate

The Supervisor certificate is for those who plan to supervise daily work activities on a lead-related construction work site and/or prepare lead abatement plans. These certificates are also for those who plan to supervise repainting or general construction performed on surfaces painted with lead-based paint. This may include:

Overseeing workers who are performing the activities specified in a lead abatement work plans. (Supervisors also perform lead-related construction work activities themselves.
Enforcing the work practices that ensure worker safety and protect occupants from lead poisoning
Scheduling and coordinating work site activities with building occupants as well as other consultants and contractors
Arranging for proper disposal of lead containing waste created during work activities

Under California's Title 17 regulations, a certified Supervisor

may perform lead abatement activities
may supervise individuals performing lead abatement activities
may prepare lead abatement plans

may not perform lead hazard evaluations, including clearance inspections

Worker Certificate

The Worker certificate is for those who plan to do lead abatement activities under the direction of a supervisor. These certificates are also for those who plan to do repainting or general construction on surfaces painted with lead-based paint. This may include

Building containment structures and sealing off work areas to prevent lead dust from spreading
Removing, enclosing or covering lead-based paint hazards or lead contaminated soil
Preparing lead contaminated waste for disposal and cleaning-up the work area

Under California's Title 17 regulations, a certified Worker

may perform lead abatement activities

may not prepare lead abatement plans
may not perform lead hazard evaluations, including clearance inspections

Lead Certification Requirements

The table below shows which types of activities certified lead Inspector/Assessors, Project Designers, Project Monitors, Supervisors and Workers may do under California's Work Practice Standards for Lead-Related Construction (Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Sections 36000 and 36100). Please note that these regulations apply only to work done in residential and public buildings. Please also refer to the key definitions below for details about what these types of activities include:

	do lead abatement work?	prepare lead abatement plans?	perform lead hazard evaluations?	perform clearance inspections?
Can a certified Inspector/Assessor	no	no	YES	YES
Can a certified Project Designer	no	YES	no	no
Can a certified Project Monitor	no	YES	no	YES
Can a certified Supervisor	YES	YES	no	no
Can a certified Worker	YES	no	no	no

Key Definitions

The following definitions are provided for guidance only. They do not contain exact language from California's new lead work practice standards.

Abatement - Any set of measures designed to reduce or eliminate lead hazards or lead-based paint from residential or public buildings. Abatement does not include containment or cleaning activities.
Clearance - Inspection An on-site limited investigation, performed according to U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development guidelines, to determine if lead hazard control work has been completed as specified and if the work area is safe for unprotected workers, residents and children to enter.Does not include sampling activities done to ensure Cal/OSHA compliance (e.g. paint chip or dust wipe sampling) or representative sampling done to determine the presence of hazardous waste, for waste segregation and disposal purposes.
Lead Hazard Evaluation - An on-site inspection, risk assessment and/or clearance inspection, done for pay or other compensation, to determine the presence or amount of lead-based paint or lead hazards in a residential or public building. Does not include sampling activities done to ensure Cal/OSHA compliance (e.g. paint chip or dust wipe sampling), representative sampling done to determine the presence of hazardous waste, for waste segregation and disposal purposes, or sampling done to determine adequacy of containment.
Lead Hazards - Deteriorated lead-based paint, lead contaminated dust, lead contaminated soil, lead-based paint that is disturbed without containment or any other nuisance which results in persistent measurable lead exposure. Lead hazards include all paint or surface coatings on residential or public buildings built before January 1, 1978, that are disturbed without containment.(Such surface coatings are presumed to contain lead.)