In Massachusetts residential contractors who work on pre 1978 properties are required to obtain a RRP Lead Safe Renovation Contractor License. In addition so are residential landlords who own multifamily homes where they receive compensation in the form of rent. Many contractors who are registered with the EPA as Certified Firms HAVE NOT OBTAINED THEIR MASS LEAD SAFE RENOVATION CONTRACTOR LICENSE. WHY! OSHA Regulations in the Mass RRP Lead Law. OSHA Respiratory and Medical Monitoring Training

National Lumber continues to host important training to help residential contractors in New England. On 12/14/2011 National Lumber is hosting OSHA Fall Protection Training for Massachusetts contractors. This training is critical for contractors who work at heights of 6 feet or more above lower levels. Steve Linsky of National Lumber is opening up their state of the art training facility in Mansfield, Ma. for this training. The training will be presented by Safety Trainers Inc and The Contractor Coaching Partnership Inc.

As 2011 comes to a close do you think now is the time to develop and complete your business plan for 2012. Is it time to focus working on the business rather than in it?

The BBRS produces a newsletter called CodeWord for the Mass residential construction industry.

RRP Lead Law compliance is still an issue with many contractors who remain uncertified and refuse to obtain RRP training. We have asked many why they refuse to get trained and the reasons for noncompliance are similar to what we were told last year. Here are the recent list of comments received over the past month from those who refuse to obtain the required training and some refuse to license or certify the firm;

Massachusetts BBRS has a new CEU (Continuing Education Unit) Credit Requirement for contractors with Construction Supervisor Licenses. Many contractors tell us they are either unaware of the new requirement or not sure how it works. Last week in our OSHA Awareness Seminar at Mid Cape Lumber a contractor said he just learned about the new Mass 8th Edition Building Code. To help Massachusetts contractors learn about this new CEU requirement please see the excerpt from the BBRS.

Successful remodelers use the Cost vs Value Report to educate consumers about the cost of home improvement projects.

Last week Massachusetts contractors had the opportunity to meet an OSHA employee face to face. The Contractor Coaching Partnership Inc and Safety Trainers Inc brought Boston OSHA to local lumberyards.

Safety Trainers, Inc's EPA/Mass RRP Certification is now approved for 8 CEU credits. Safety Trainers, Inc is the first Massachusetts Training Provider to receive this approval. I am the Prinicpal Instructor for the RRP Training Program. 

On December 13th, 2011 a public hearing will be held by the Mass BBRS on several Building Code Proposals including the Stretch Sprinkler Code. Officials expect this meeting to be well attended due to the controversy generated by the Stretch Sprinkler Code. This building code proposal if adopted, would require sprinklers in new one and two family homes.