This week our Mass RRP Lead Certification Class was approved for 8 Continuing Education Units towards the new BBRS CSL requirement. Safety Trainers Inc is our training provider and Mark Paskell of The Contractor Coaching Partnership, Inc is the primary principal instructor.

Yesterday two roofers were electrocuted on a residential roofing project in Bridgewater Massachusetts. They were raising a ladder and hit a wire. Officials said 13,800 volts went through the mens bodies. One was not breathing when help arrived and he was revived.

The State of Mass DLS (RRP Enforcement) announced that they are finding many contractors not complying with the RRP licensing requirement. All Mass contractors who work on pre 1978 properties are required to obtain their Mass Lead Safe Renovation License. Here is the application if you need it. This requirement also applies to property management firms, landlords, housing authorities, banks and realtors who manage foreclosures, institutions who own and rent pre 1978 residential properties, weatherization contractors and more.

The OSHA Wolves are at residential contractors door..........                         

OSHA in New England is very active enforcing fall protection. Another Massachusetts contractor from Everett was hit for major fall protection violations. (Article links below) Last week we had several calls about OSHA visits and citations for fall protection violations south of Boston.

A Mass painting contractor was issued a stop work order yesterday for not being in compliance with the Mass RRP Lead Law. The job is in Brookline Massachusetts. Here are the details;

On Friday I got a call from a contractor who was just nailed by OSHA because some of his guys were not wearing harnesses. It turns out some of his guys were tied off and some were not. The OSHA inspector assessed the violations totaling $17,000.00. The contractor has asked us to meet with OSHA on his behalf in the hopes we may be able to persuade them to lower the fines. We will provide abatement services at the OSHA office hearing.

OSHA has announced a temporary policy on fall protection enforcement. Essentially all contractors not following the new directive and following the old one will have some latitude from inspectors with some reduction in fines for good faith efforts. Fines will still be levied even if good faith efforts are shown.

We have scheduled more free OSHA Awareness Seminars for residential contractors in Massachusetts. Our first one last month at Brockway Smith was well attended by over 40 contractors.

The EPA just released the new RRP curriculum. In this slide they are showing the new Vertical Containment required when working on a wall within 10 feet of a property line. This picture shows a one story home. Two and three story homes will be much more challenging, especially due to the new focus on fall protection from OSHA. OSHA mandates that contractors use guard rails, safety nets and or fall arrest systems when 6 feet above lower levels. It will be interesting to see how contractors handle higher elevations. Painters using ladders may need to consider using pipe staging or pumps.