Angie's List was founded in 1995 by Angie Hicks and now has more than 500,000 members across 124 cities.

The tour was prompted by the findings of an Angie’s List investigation that showed a full third of companies whose employees regularly disturb lead paint during the course of their work gave advice that could put people, especially young children, in danger.

Press Release

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Angie’s List will kick off a national lead testing and safety training program in Indianapolis Saturday, September 22.

The Angie’s List Lead Safety Tour is designed to help homeowners avoid situations that could irreversibly harm their children and will also offer training to help contractors safely work around lead-based paint. Angie’s List is partnering locally with the Marion County Department of Health, the Environmental Management Institute and Improving Kids Environment.

The tour was prompted by the findings of an Angie’s List investigation that showed a full third of companies whose employees regularly disturb lead paint during the course of their work gave advice that could put people, especially young children, in danger. Service providers are asked to register for training in advance by calling 317-248-4848.

Lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage to young children. Twenty-four million U.S. homes contain dangerous levels of lead-based paint.

Where:
Pecar Health Center
6940 N Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

When:
Saturday, September 22: 10am-2pm
Service Provider Training: 9:30am-1:30pm

Angie’s List, the national consumer organization that helps homeowners find reliable help in more than 280 categories of service, including painting and remodeling, is offering the training and testing free to the public. Experts will discuss the dangers that toxic levels of lead pose and will offer:

-- Blood-lead level testing for children.
-- Two-hour training for contractors who work with lead-based paint.
-- Informal seminar for homeowners about what they need to know when hiring a contractor who will disturb lead-based paint.
-- Tutorial for do-it-yourselfers who will disturb lead-based paint.

The Angie’s List Lead Safety Tour will be presented in Boston; Chicago; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; Providence; San Diego; San Francisco; St. Louis, Mo.; and Washington DC. Additional cities may be added. Visit http://leadsafety.angieslist.com/ for details on the tour schedule.

Federal housing officials estimate that 24 million American homes contain dangerous levels of lead-based paint, which was commonly used prior to 1978 when it was banned from use. When working on homes built before 1978, contractors are required by federal law to notify owners and tenants that they may be disturbing lead-based paint. The law also requires them to provide homeowners with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pamphlet, “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.”

A nationwide poll of Angie’s List members found that 51 percent live in a home built prior to 1978. Of those members, 75 percent said their contractor failed to warn them about the possible dangers of lead-based paint, and 85 percent never received the pamphlet.

“We find the results of this investigation alarming,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “We are concerned that our members are being given incorrect information about lead-based paint. The goal of this tour is to bring together experts who can educate the public about the hazards associated with lead.”

Because lead-based paint is present in so many homes, it poses danger for every income-level. Angie’s List CEO, Bill Oesterle, was rehabbing an older home in Indianapolis when his then two-year-old daughter suffered the effects of lead poisoning.

“My family learned firsthand how damaging lead poisoning can be to young children,” Oesterle said. “It is important to me that Angie’s List helps educate the public and contractors about this issue so that other families can avoid exposing their children to this toxin. This is an avoidable situation, and education is truly our greatest weapon.”

Angie’s List is where consumers turn to get the real scoop on local contractors and companies in more than 280 different categories. Currently, more than 500,000 consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; a monthly newsletter with even more information and coupons; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information and consumer tips at www.angieslist.com.

Source: Angie's List