Your Safety

Your safety is our #1 concern at OSI Comfort Specialists. We don't just practice safe standards, we are certified to perform our jobs safely according to the law.

OSI Is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Contractor

OSI Comfort Specialists is your full service comfort company, and our work - whether it involves installation of heating, cooling, plumbing, or alternative energy systems - occasionally puts us in contact with lead-based paint. Our first concern has always been your safety - and now we are certified to perform specific work practices regarding lead safety when we perform work at your home.

Why You Should Be Concerned about Lead

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

How Lead Can Affect Your Family

Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978. Over 80% of all housing in the U.S. built before 1978 contains some lead-based paint on the interior or exterior. If managed properly, lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard. If allowed to deteriorate, however, lead from the paint or lead dust can create serious health hazards. Similarly, without proper precautions, renovations of surfaces with lead-based paint release lead dust.

• Lead can affect children's brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.
  
• Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible.
  
• Projects that disturb painted surfaces can create dust and endanger you and your family.
  

Now There's a Law to Protect You

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Individuals can become certified renovators by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider.

3 Ways We Ensure Your Safety

As a Lead-Safe Contractor, OSI must follow these 3 simple procedures when we perform work in your home:

• Contain the work area
  
• Minimize dust
  
• Clean up thoroughly
  

At OSI, we care about your comfort and your safety every day. For more on EPA Lead-Safe Certification, the hazards of lead and other helpful homeowner information, click here.

Lead-Free Certification - IT'S THE LAW!
Beginning April 22, 2010, federal law requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb more than six square feet of paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and trained to follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Because OSI Comfort Specialists is a Lead-Safe Certified Firm, you can rest assured that you and your family are protected.

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