(BINGHAMTON, NY) - The Broome County Health Department and Broome Tioga BOCES are working in collaboration to bring Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Renovator Training to the current participants of the “HEW: Health, Environmental, Weatherization” class. Individuals participating in the class will learn how to protect themselves and the families living in the homes where they are working from the effects of toxic lead particles.

Lead exposure and lead poisoning are of greatest concern for young children and pregnant women. Even low levels of exposure to lead can cause learning disabilities, decreased intelligence and speech, language, and behavioral problems that can affect children for a lifetime. This training will provide many of the tools these contractors need to protect children and pregnant women from lead exposure. They will learn how to perform specialized techniques used to minimize, contain, and clean up lead dust that may be disturbed during work. Because lead based paint was commonly used in older homes, these same homes are likely to be targeted for weatherization work.