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The Contractor Coaching Partnership Blog

Unlicensed (RRP) Mass Contractor Loses $60,000 kitchen project.

Posted by Mark Paskell on Thu, Mar 10, 2011 @ 12:00 AM

Three weeks ago a contractor called me freaking out that he needed his Mass Lead Safe Renovation Contractor License as a condition to win a $60,000.00 kitchen job. He was RRP trained last spring and like many contractors did not send in his EPA Certified Firm Application. He has employees and needs to send in an OSHA Written Respirator and Worker Safety Plan to qualify for the Mass Lead license. Since he was not listed on the Mass License list he lost the kitchen job. Ouch!

                      EPA Certified Firm               Massachusetts

The homeowner is educated on the EPA RRP regulation, has kids and lives in a home built in 1920. She researched the law and requested lead certifications. She saw the consumer flyer produced by the DOS telling homeowners to hire a lead safe contractor.

On page two of the Massachusetts homeowner flyer it says;

To make sure that your contractor is trained in lead safety, ask to see his or her DOS license. To find a licensed contractor near you and to learn more about the rule, visit www.mass.gov/dos.”

Massachusetts homeowner brochure

The spring remodeling season is just around the corner. Many consumers are starting to do their research to prepare for hiring a contractor. Educated consumers spend hours on line, speak to friends and co-workers and check with relatives before they decide who they will invite to their home. In their search they look for credentials, references, expertise and knowledge.

Some have learned about the EPA RRP Lead Rule and more will follow as the word spreads. 

The question is will this happen on one of your jobs? What will you do if a consumer asks why your not listed as a Certified Firm in an EPA state like New York, Conn, Vermont, Maine or New Hampshire? In Mass or Rhode Island what will you do if the consumer goes to the state license list and your not there? Do you think they may hire your competition instead of you?

mark the coach

"one voice for the residential construction industry" 

OSHA Respirator and Lead in Construction Training

Tags: rrp license, homeowners