Child Care Providers & Schools

Asbestos and Lead Information for Child Care Providers and Schools

The information on this page is for child care providers and schools.

Why are asbestos and lead regulated in Vermont?

Asbestos and lead pose health risks, and they may be found in buildings and other structures. Because of this, the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have specific requirements for the maintenance, renovation and demolition of buildings and other structures.

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are only dangerous when they are disturbed or handled incorrectly. If ACMs are not handled properly, asbestos particles can be breathed in. Even a small amount of ACM can cause health effects. Learn more about the hazards and health effects of asbestos.

Lead-based paint becomes a hazard when it is disturbed. This can be from chipping and peeling paint, when painted surfaces rub together, or when the paint is not properly sanded, scraped or burned. If lead-based paint is not handled properly, lead dust can be breathed in or swallowed by workers and by people, especially children, who use the building or other structure. Learn more about the hazards and health effects of lead.

What You Need to Know About Asbestos and Lead Requirements

What do child care providers or preschools need to know about Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices?

Find out what you need to know about IRC Practices

What do schools need to know before starting renovation or demolition projects?

Asbestos

Find out what you need to know about asbestos in schools

Lead

Find out what you need to know about lead-based paint in schools

What do I need to know about asbestos in schools?

Learn about the Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA)

What are safe work practices for asbestos and lead?

Asbestos

Under Vermont law, only licensed contractors are allowed to perform asbestos abatement activities and must follow the regulations regarding the handling and disposing of asbestos-containing materials.

Unsafe handling of asbestos-containing materials often leads to the need for asbestos cleanup by a Vermont-licensed asbestos contractor.

Lead

Under Vermont law, contractors are required to use lead-safe work practices.

Unsafe work practices that disturb lead-based paint will create lead hazards (see Section 5). Under Vermont law, if lead hazards are created in any building or structure, you will be responsible for the cleanup that will require you to hire a Vermont-licensed lead abatement contractor.

The appeal process for an administrative penalty can be found in the Administrative Penalty Statement of Procedural Rights.

How can I test for asbestos or lead hazards?

Asbestos

If you want to know whether there are asbestos-containing materials in a home, building, structure or material, hire a Vermont-licensed asbestos inspector to conduct an inspection.

Lead

Lead-Based Paint

If you want to know whether lead-based paint is on a home, building or other structure, hire a Vermont-certified lead inspector or risk assessor to conduct a lead inspection or risk assessment. A lead inspection determines the presence or absence of lead-based paint on painted or coated surfaces. A risk assessment identifies lead hazards from deteriorated paint, dust and bare soil, and ways to control the lead hazards.