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Results and Findings Background This survey was conducted between January 13, 2006 and January 18, 2006 to gauge knowledge of lead-based paint hazards among local housing agencies. A representative sample of 50 city and county housing agencies located throughout California (representing urban, rural, and suburban communities) participated in the survey. Survey participants included code enforcement officers, building officials, and housing inspectors. Housing agencies were identified via the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers' list-serve and invited to participate. Participation was voluntary and non-compensated. The survey was designed and conducted by Lead Safe Communities, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Dublin, California. The survey questions and results are identified below. Findings - Over half (54%) of individuals who conduct housing inspections for government agencies have never received training on lead hazards, and 44% are unaware of existing state laws which require local agencies to identify and abate lead hazards. - 86% of housing inspectors rarely or never identified lead hazards as a housing violation, although over 90% worked in communities with significant risk factors for lead hazards (significant number of housing built before 1950, low-income residents, rental housing stock, and children under age 6). - Training on lead hazards in housing was identified as a needed resource by all housing inspectors polled (100%). - 85% of surveyed agencies did not have a protocol or plan for implementing lead safety into existing code enforcement inspections or housing inspections. Survey Questions and Results 1. Does your agency have a housing program or housing component? (Please check one) YES (75%) NO (25%) 2. Do you conduct code enforcement activities or inspect housing for substandard conditions? (Please check one) YES (98%) NO (2%) 3. What type of buildings do you inspect? (Please check all that apply) Single Family Housing (94%) Multi-Family Housing (86%) Schools, Day Care Centers (22%) Other Public or Commercial Buildings (72%) 4. Does your agency have a reactive response to housing violations (e.g. Do you conduct inspections in response to tips and complaints?) (Please check one) YES (98%) NO (2%) 5. Does your agency have a proactive response to housing violations (e.g. Do you conduct scheduled inspections, such as inspect rental units annually)? (Please check one) YES (21%) NO (79%) 6. Based on your experience, what are the three (3) housing defects most often cited during code enforcement inspections? a. water damage/leaking roof or window (87%) b. unsafe electrical (83%) c. generic unsafe/substandard conditions (82%) d. nonworking plumbing/septic (79%) e. deteriorated paint (72%) f. converted garage/nonpermitted structures (71%) g. mold/mildew (63%) h. no utilities/no heat (54%) i. trash (52%) j. inoperable vehicles (48%) k. rodents/cockroaches (25%) l. nonworking smoke detectors (21%) m. overgrown vegetation (18%) n. exits blocked/locked (5%) 7. How often do you identify a violation to be "deteriorated paint," "faulty weather protection - exterior deteriorated paint," or other similar condition? (Please check one) Never (6%) Rarely (12%) Occasionally (52%) Frequently (30%) 8. Does your agency have a protocol or plan for implementing lead safety into its code enforcement inspections or housing inspections? (Please check one) YES (15%) NO (85%) 9. Have you received training on lead hazards? (Please check one) YES (46%) NO (54%) 10. If you answered YES to question 9, what did your training include? (Please check all that apply) General information on lead hazards (100%) Visual inspection (42%) How to take samples of paint, dust or soil (25%) 11. If you answered NO to question 9, what type of training do you want/need? (Please check all that apply) General information on lead hazards (100%) Visual inspection (100%) How to take samples of paint, dust or soil (69%) 12. How often do you identify lead hazards (e.g. lead-based paint) as a housing violation? (Please check one) Never (51%) Rarely (35%) Occasionally (14%) Frequently (0%) 13. Which of the following violations have you identified during housing inspections? (Please check all that apply) Deteriorated Paint (78%) Presumed Lead-Based Paint (30%) Lead-Based Paint (14%) Lead-Contaminated Dust (2%) Lead-Contaminated Soil (8%) 14. Did you know that state law requires local building and housing agencies to order the abatement of lead hazards? (Please check one) YES (56%) NO (44%) 15. Does your agency require "lead-safe" work practices for repairs that disturb paint in housing built before 1978? (Please check one) YES (46%) NO (54%) 16. Did you know that state law gives local building and housing agencies the authority to issue a cease and desist order or stop work order if someone is creating a lead hazard (e.g. a contractor generating paint chips and dust during a remodeling project in a pre-1978 housing)? (Please check one) YES (57%) NO (43%) 17. Have you ever issued a cease and desist order or stop work order for unsafe work practices? (Please check one) YES (35%) NO (65%) 18. Does your community have any of the following risk factors for childhood lead poisoning? (Please check all that apply) Housing built before 1950 (100%) Low-Income Residents (100%) Rental Housing (94%) Children under age 6 (97%) 19. Would you like to be contacted if free training on identifying lead hazards in housing is offered in your area? (Please check one) YES (94%) NO (6%) 20. Would you like to be contacted if grant funding for local agencies to address lead hazards becomes available? (Please check one) YES (90%) NO (10%) 21. What resources do you currently need to address lead hazards in your community? (Please check all that apply) Training (100%) Funding for Property Owner to fix hazards (80%) Other (please specify): 22. Do you have any other thoughts or suggestions for how to increase the identification and remediation of lead hazards in housing? (Please specify): a. rental units should be inspected annually (19%) b. radio/tv outreach to educate community (15%) c. make inspections mandatory upon sale (11%) d. need funding for owners to fix property (8%) e. contractors stop creating hazards when remodeling (4%) f. professional training is needed (4%) |
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© 2005 Leadsafe Communittes, All Rights Reserved |
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