EPA fines Honolulu-based household remodeler for lead basic safety violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Honolulu-dependent HK Building Corp. just about $15,000 for violations of federal restrictions relevant to direct-based paint.

The organization will shell out a $14,981 penalty for failing to comply with the Renovation, Fix and Portray Rule, which necessitates it to take actions to defend the community from lead publicity while accomplishing residential remodeling perform, according to the EPA.

“Renovating older homes can expose people and workers to dangerous direct-based mostly paint and dust,” said Amy Miller, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, in a information launch. “EPA expects all renovation organizations to make certain their contractors are experienced, qualified and observe guide risk-free operate procedures to defend public overall health.”

According to the EPA, through renovation operate at residential houses in Honolulu, HK Construction Corp. did not retain appropriate documents these types of as documentation making sure that a accredited renovator was assigned to the career, documents displaying that on-the-work training was executed for workers or that individuals doing the renovations ended up accredited or trained by a certified renovator.

The organization also unsuccessful to affirm that household property proprietors been given the essential “Renovate Right” pamphlet.

HK Development is an award-successful residence remodeler and builder that provides style and design-make companies, as well as additions and extensive reworking, according to its web site.

It has been accredited by the Better Organization Bureau given that December 2008, in accordance to data, been in business enterprise 27 many years, and received an A-additionally score.

In a created assertion, Alan Twu, vice president of HK Development, mentioned for in excess of 25 years, the enterprise has created the basic safety of its clientele, personnel, and the neighborhood a leading precedence.

“It is our typical observe to have a accredited renovator on our tasks and to comply with all town, condition and federal restrictions,” explained Twu in the assertion. “During this renovation undertaking assessed by the EPA, a deficiency of documentation was discovered as our qualified renovator transitioned to a various business. We have experienced a new licensed renovator on workers constantly next that undertaking. We choose our obligation as 1 of Hawaii’s leading development companies severely. For that cause, we attained a settlement and approved the EPA’s ruling for the project.”

“As section of our normal specialist techniques, we make all efforts to effectively have harmful particles and dust,” he continued. “We make sure our personnel have the proper PPE to do the job in all conditions. We also use good containment procedures and, when needed, get hold of our neighborhood EPA teacher for steerage on holding the home harmless. HK Development continues to be dedicated to the basic safety of all who are right and indirectly impacted by our perform.”

The EPA explained the enforcement motion reinforces its commitment to addressing childhood direct publicity.

Guide exposure is most dangerous to kids under the age of 6, and can result in behavioral and studying difficulties, slowed growth and hearing issues.

Even though the federal govt banned household use of guide-based mostly paint in 1978, it is even now present in millions of older households, the EPA claimed, in some cases below layers of new paint.

The Renovation, Repair service and Painting Rule was created to protect the general public from direct-dependent paint dangers that come about throughout repair or remodeling in residences and little one-occupied facilities such as schools constructed ahead of 1978. It involves people executing renovations be effectively educated and qualified to comply with lead-protected get the job done tactics. It also involves creating contractors that renovate pre-1978 residences to be EPA accredited.