Lead in Schools and Child Care Centers

Develop and implement a plan for indoor air quality (IEQ):

Wis. Stat. § 118.075(4) states that school boards are required to develop and implement a plan for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in their schools. An IEQ Management Plan may include policy addendums related to the control of common environmental hazards. These hazards may include lead and asbestos.

Keep school buildings and grounds safe and well-maintained:

Wis. Stat. § 120.12(5) states that school boards are required to "keep the school buildings and grounds in good repair, suitably equipped and in safe sanitary condition at all times," and "establish an annual building maintenance schedule."

Provide safe and healthful facilities:

Wis. Stat. § 121.02 sets 20 education standards that school districts are expected to meet. One of the standards, Wis. Stat § 121.02(1)(i), says school districts are expected to "provide safe and healthful facilities."

Comply with DHS 163:

Wis. Stat § 121.02(1)(i) states that "facilities shall comply with ss.254.11 to 254.178 and any rule promulgated under those sections."

One such rule is DHS 163, which is Wisconsin's administrative code that regulates the training and certification of individuals or companies who are "performing, supervising or offering to perform or supervise a renovation, lead hazard reduction or lead investigation activity involving target housing or a child-occupied facility."

DHS 163 additionally states that individuals or companies are "required to conduct activities in a manner that does not increase the hazards from lead-based paint to building occupants."

To understand more about DHS 163, see the drop-down titled "Lead-safe renovation in child-occupied facilities."

Develop a long-range maintenance plan:

The safe and healthful facilities section of PI 8.01(2)(i) states "facilities shall be inspected at least annually for potential or demonstrated hazards to safety and health, and hazardous conditions shall be corrected, compensating devices installed or special arrangements made to provide for safe and healthful facilities.

Additionally, PI 8.01(2)(i) states that "school boards are required to comply with all regulations, state codes, and orders of DHS."

In licensed or certified child care centers

Entities that operate a child care that is certified or licensed by the Department of Children and Families are required to comply with the following lead-based paint regulations:

• Wis. Stat. § DCF 251.06(2)(i): No flaking or deteriorating paint can be on exterior or interior surfaces in areas accessible to children.
• Wis. Stat. § 251.06(2)(im): No lead-based paint or other toxic finishing material may be used on indoor or outdoor furnishings and equipment.

In Head Start centers

Head start programs are required to comply with 1302.47 Safety Practices. 132.47(b)(9) states that "a program must develop a plan to prevent children from being exposed to lead in water and paint. In facilities where lead may exist, a program must implement ongoing practices, including testing and inspection at least every two years, with support from trained professionals. As needed, a program must pursue remediation or abatement to prevent lead exposure."

Wis. stat. ch. DHS 163, or the Lead-Safe Renovation Rule, requires that activities involving lead-based paint in a dwelling or "child-occupied facility" are done safely without creating or increasing lead hazards.

A "child-occupied facility" refers to any building (or portion of a building) constructed prior to 1978 that meets any of the following:

• A facility licensed or certified to provide day care services.
• A public or private school or preschool attended by at least one registered child younger than 6 years of age, including a state-operated residential treatment center.
• A building or portion of a building, visited by the same child under 6 years of age, on at least two different days within any week, Sunday through Saturday, provided that each day's visit lasts at least three hours and the combined annual visits last at least 60 hours.
• A structure that is being converted into a child-occupied facility.

If you work in an old building, lead paint and dust may be in your classrooms. Lead can harm both teachers and students.

Keep yourself and your students safe

Get trained on lead hazards. Lead can be in pipes and other surfaces besides paint.

Don't enter work zones. If renovation work is happening in your school, avoid entering work zones.

Make a report if you see unsafe renovation practices. Work zones should be clearly marked with signs and have plastic laid out to capture debris. Concerned about work in your school or child care center? Contact Wisconsin's Certification and Field Compliance Units to submit an anonymous report.

Wash your hands before eating, drinking, or touching your mouth or face.

Don't take lead home. If you think you've been exposed to lead dust from renovation work or deteriorating paint in classrooms, take action to avoid bringing it home.

• Take off your shoes before entering your home.
• Change your clothes and wash them separately.
• Shower.

Regular cleanings and preventative maintenance in schools and child care centers can help keep children safe from lead paint, but, sometimes, renovation work is needed. Lead renovation work makes schools safer, but it can temporarily produce hazardous lead dust. Lead dust can hurt your child's brain if swallowed. Even small amounts can harm a child's IQ and development.

Keep your child lead-safe at school

Encourage hand washing before eating and after playing.

Wipe down shoes and backpacks after school.

Get your child tested for lead. Wisconsin parents are encouraged to have all children tested for lead before age 6. Wisconsin recommends two blood-lead tests by age 2. Learn more about getting your child tested for lead.

Support healthy habits at home. A diet rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin C helps to reduce lead absorption.

Request information. Find out if your child's school or child care center has tested for lead in paint or drinking water.

More resources for Wisconsin parents, guardians, and families

Spread the word! These flyers inform friends and family about how they can keep their children lead-safe in schools:

• Lead Paint Renovation in Schools: Information for Parents and Guardians, P-03720C (PDF)
• Lead Paint Renovation in Schools: Help us keep you and your students safe, P-03720A (PDF)

Lead paint doesn't just hurt kids. Lead exposure can harm people of all ages. If you're an adult worried about lead exposure, reach out to the Adult Lead Program.

Workers, stay safe from lead

Lead paint can be in maintenance areas. Look out for chipping or peeling paint in boiler rooms, closets, and on old walls.

Get trained on lead hazards. Lead can be in pipes and other surfaces besides paint. Learn more about common sources of lead in Wisconsin and their risks.

Ask for and use personal protective equipment (PPE). Use gloves and a mask if you must work with or around lead dust. More PPE, such as coveralls, may be needed if there is a lot of lead dust in the area.

Do not sweep up paint chips. Use a HEPA vacuum, mop, and disposable wipes.

Avoid disturbing peeling paint when cleaning. Don't peel or scrape it off!

Wash your hands before eating, drinking, or touching your mouth or face.

Don't take lead home. If you think you came into contact with lead dust, take off your shoes, change clothes, and shower after work.

Talk to your employer about any concerns, such as dust produced by remediation work, lead paint in work areas, and visible chipping and peeling paint.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recommends that school districts with buildings constructed before 1978 (or any structure with known or suspected lead-based paint) take steps to monitor and properly maintain painted surfaces.

Set up district-wide lead-based paint management

Form a multi-disciplinary team:

A school district should form or use a multi-disciplinary team that includes staff representatives from facilities, administration, health and safety, and business operations.

This team should be in charge of managing the maintenance of lead-based paint in schools.

Designate a lead-based paint coordinator:

School districts should designate a coordinator to lead the development and implementation of a Lead-Based Paint Management Plan.

DHS recommends coordinating with the district's Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Designated Person. It is their job to oversee asbestos management and compliance with federal regulations. Given the technical similarities between the management of lead-based paint and asbestos, this individual will be well-positioned to assist or lead this role.

DHS also recommends that the coordinator is a certified Lead Risk Assessor. This will allow them to identify lead-based paint hazards. To learn more, visit Getting Certified to Work with Lead-Based Paint.

Record and monitor all lead-based paint hazards

Tabulate building information and records

Identify all buildings and additions that were built before 1978. DHS advises districts to assume that all pre-1978 buildings contain lead hazards unless otherwise demonstrated.

Review all building records and pull out any information about old lead abatement reports or lead risk assessments.

Document all lead-based paint hazards

Keep a list that includes known or suspected lead-based paint surfaces, the condition of those surfaces, recommended action, and any work completed.

Keep track of reports made by staff, parents, and visitors regarding district building conditions. Any reports made about chipping or peeling paint may indicate a lead paint hazard. DHS advises school districts to treat these reports as such.

Use a certified professional to assess painted surfaces

In Wisconsin, only a certified Lead Risk Assessor or Lead Inspector can examine a child-occupied facility and verify if a surface does or does not present a lead hazard.

Support safe renovation

Review DHS 163

DHS 163 regulates work on lead-based paint in child-occupied facilities. Review DHS 163 before any work that might disturb lead paint to ensure that your project meets state regulations.

Hire certified lead-safe contractors

Any work that disturbs lead paint in a child-occupied facility must be done by a certified lead-safe contractor. These are professionals that are trained to keep children and building occupants safe from dangerous lead dust and debris during renovation work.

Visit How to Hire a Lead-Safe Contractor to view a list of certified contractors and learn more.

Notify relevant parties before work begins in areas with lead paint

Depending on the type of lead paint work being done, administrators should notify building occupants, families of children, and the Department of Health Services before work begins. Notification requirements vary depending on the type of work being done:

Lead-safe renovation: Lead-safe renovation refers to any renovation work that disturbs lead paint. Lead companies that complete this work are required to provide the EPA's Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right to building occupants before work begins.

Lead abatement: Lead abatement work refers to work done to remove and eliminate lead paint hazards in a specific area. This work requires a certified lead abatement supervisor, who has specific reporting requirements. The lead abatement supervisor must:

Prepare a written Occupant Protection Plan, F-00201 (PDF) and post it in plain view outside of the work area.

Provide a written Lead Abatement Notification, F-44012 (PDF) to DHS at least two working days before beginning lead paint abatement in child-occupied facilities.

Contact DHS's Certification and Field Compliance Units

Administrators are encouraged to contact Wisconsin's Certification and Field Compliance Units with any questions or concerns about lead paint renovation work.

Phone: 608-261-6876

Email: DHSAsbestosLead@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Administrators should also reach out immediately if there are any concerns about lead paint work being performed incorrectly. Submit an anonymous report by filling out: Report Unsafe Lead or Asbestos Work, F-02187.

Protect workers, contractors, and staff from occupational exposure

Follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) lead standards

OSHA's lead standards should be incorporated into a school policy for contractors, maintenance, and custodial staff. Key areas include:

• Limits on airborne lead concentrations (Permissible Exposure Limit or PEL).
• Requirements for using HEPA vacuums and wet cleaning methods for housekeeping.
• The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Provide educational resources and training

Administrators should provide educational resources and training on lead-safe work practices for staff that may interact with lead paint or surfaces covered with lead dust or debris. These staff include teachers, maintenance, building, and custodial workers.

Staff can learn more about lead exposure on the job and steps to protect themselves and their families at Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Protecting Adults from Lead Exposure.

Employers can learn more about occupational exposure at Lead-Safe Wisconsin: Protecting Employees from Lead Exposure.

Build awareness of hazards

Administrators and directors can support lead safety by supporting transparent communication with staff and parents about the risks of lead paint.

Inform building occupants and families about lead paint

Administrators should inform building occupants and families of children about the presents of lead paint in relevant district buildings. Interested parties should also be able to find information on the condition of the paint and the district's maintenance schedule.

Announce and post signage for lead paint work

During lead paint work, post signs and a map showing detours and restricted areas.

Outside of lead abatement work, make sure that the required Occupant Protection Plan is posted.

Share educational materials

The state has developed free informational flyers about staying safe around lead and lead paint renovation in schools, Lead in Schools Flyers, P-03720.

Apply for assistance

Some state and federal programs may help to cover the costs of testing and remediation.