Lead Information Schools and Daycares
The universal lead testing regulation went into effect on January 1, 2018. This means that starting in the fall of 2018, every child will need to present a record of being tested for lead before entering kindergarten.
Universal Lead Testing Regulation
The regulation requires children to be tested at 9-12 months of age and again at approximately 24 months of age. Since this is a new rule, the regulation also includes a catch-up provision for any child that has not previously been tested. If a child has not had a prior test, they will need to be tested before the start of kindergarten or they reach the age of 6, whichever comes first. That means that in 2018, some children will be getting catch up testing.
Families should provide proof of their child’s lead test along with immunization records before the beginning of the school year. The proof does not need to include the test results, just that the test was given.
Some families may object to having their child tested. The exemption policy in the new County regulation is identical to state law on vaccinations. Exemption requests must be put in writing. Children should not be kept out of school for failure to provide documentation of a lead test or an exemption.
School nurses will report the number of children tested for lead and number of exemptions to the health department in the same way they currently report vaccination information to ACHD.
Downloadable Information
On April 30, 2018, the health department sent an informational packet to school nurses throughout Allegheny County. It explained the new regulation and answered questions that schools need to know to put this requirement into practice. Below are the elements included in this mailing.
EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program Rule
The EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule requires that renovations of child-occupied facilities only be carried out by lead-safe certified renovation firms that use certified renovators trained in lead-safe work practices. This is to ensure that these renovations do not accidentally contaminate your facility and expose children to hazardous lead dust.
Learn more about how the RRP rule applies to operators of child care facilities.
For additional information about lead in child care facilities, visit the EPA website.
EPA's "3Ts" for Schools and Child Care Facilities
The 3Ts for reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities, which include:
- Training school officials to raise awareness of the potential occurrences, causes, and health effects of lead in drinking water.
- Testing drinking water in schools to identify potential problems and take corrective actions as necessary.
- Telling students, parents, staff, and the larger community about monitoring programs, potential risks, the results of testing, and remediation actions.
View the EPA's 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water website.