Lead dust settles to the floor and gets on children's hands and toys. It enters their bodies when they put their hands or toys into their mouths. They can also ingest lead by eating, chewing, or sucking on things with lead paint such as windowsills, railings, or other painted surfaces. The Massachusetts Lead Law requires the removal or covering, or interim control, of lead hazards in homes built before 1978 where any children under the age of 6 live. Lead paint hazards include loose lead paint and lead paint on windows and other surfaces accessible to children.
Owners are responsible for complying with the law.
This includes owners of rental property as well as owners living in their own single family homes. The owner must first hire a licensed lead inspector who will test the home for lead and record all lead hazards. Under Massachusetts law, high-risk deleading must be done by a licensed deleader. Some low-risk deleading can be done by the homeowner. Anyone planning to do low-risk deleading must first have an inspection and meet the training requirements.