SANTA CRUZ - Aptos contractor Jeff Talmadge recalled the time he bid on a job for $250,000 while a competitor bid half that amount.

Later, he read that his competitor was cited for not paying workers' compensation and paid a fine as a result.

The competitor is still in business, according to Talmadge. Talmadge is a member of the Santa Cruz Construction Guild, a network of local tradesmen that requires members who are contractors to be licensed and recommends scofflaws be reported.

Two years ago, the state Department of Industrial Relations was tasked with running the newly formed Labor Enforcement Task Force to combat "the underground economy" -- businesses paying employees in cash, eliminating the expense of paying taxes and workers' compensation insurance.

This puts operators who follow the rules at a disadvantage and all Californians feel the effects of tax revenue shortfalls.

The size of the underground economy is difficult to measure, but early this year Department of Industrial Relations director Christine Baker told the Little Hoover Commission that the state loses from $800 million and $1.2 billion each year from employers paying workers in cash, failing to pay into the workers' compensation fund or wrongly classifying employees as independent contractors and not paying for their benefits.

The state's roofing industry is under particular scrutiny after 367 falls were reported in three years, resulting in $70 million in compensation and medical costs. Following tips, the task force cited more than 60 violations in less than a year.

The Labor Enforcement Task Force involves nine agencies, with the goal to be more efficient and more effective.

Participants include the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Employment Development Department, Contractors State License Board, Bureau of Automotive Repair, Agricultural Relations Board, Department of Insurance, Labor & Workforce Development Agency and the Attorney General and district attorneys throughout the state.

The joint effort gives inspectors more enforcement tools. Last year, 40 percent of the joint inspections resulted in violations by every participating agency.

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California agencies target 'underground economy'

WASHINGTON The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced 62 enforcement actions that require renovation contractors and training providers to protect people from harmful exposure to lead dust and debris, as required by EPAs Lead-based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) standards.

The enforcement actions include 55 settlements and six complaints issued between February and October 2014 for renovations performed on pre-1978 homes and child-care facilities. All of the settlements require that the alleged violators certify their compliance with RRP standards and, in most cases, pay civil penalties. In two of the settlements, the violators agreed to fund voluntary lead abatement supplemental environmental projects, which require the removal of lead-based paint and post-construction testing to ensure that no hazardous conditions remain. The settlements led to $213,171 in civil penalties and the violators coming into compliance with federal law. These recent actions are in addition to EPAs settlement with Lowes Home Improvement in April 2014, which included a $500,000 civil penalty as well as implementation of a corporate-wide RRP compliance program.

"Children are most vulnerable to the dangers of lead paint exposure, especially those in predominantly minority and low-income communities, where housing is more likely to contain lead-based paint, said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. These cases to enforce the RRP rule are vitally important to improving compliance among companies that handle lead-based paint. This leads to safer communities, healthier children and a level playing field for companies that follow the law."

Lead dust and debris from improper renovation activities on properties built prior to 1978 is a major source of lead exposure that can cause lead poisoning. Although using lead-based paint in dwellings was prohibited after 1978, it is still present in more than 30 million homes across the nation, in all types of communities. The RRP Rule provides important protections for children and others vulnerable to lead exposure. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and anemia. In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.

The RRP Rule, which is part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is intended to ensure that owners and occupants of pre-1978 target housing and child-occupied facilities receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified, and that renovators and workers follow specific lead-safe work practices during renovations to reduce the potential for exposure to lead.

The penalties in the settlements address the cited violations. Enforcement penalties also help deter violations by others in the regulated industry, and level the playing field for complying companies, since the fines help eliminate the financial advantage a violator may derive from non-compliance which, otherwise, would allow the violator to underbid its complying competitors.

Contractors that are certified under EPAs RRP standards are encouraged to display EPAs Lead-Safe logo on workers uniforms, signs, websites, and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking for the logo before hiring a home contractor, and by being generally aware of whether a renovator is following lead-safe work practices when working on their property. Those practices, such as what a renovator must do to minimize lead dust dispersion, are outlined in EPAs Renovate Right lead hazard information pamphlet, available at http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

Renovators are required to give the pamphlet to property owners and occupants within 60 days before starting any renovation.

Between mid-February and September 30, 2014, EPA settled enforcement actions with, or issued complaints against, the companies below. In the following settlements, the companies paid civil penalties in excess of $10,000, respectively:

Student Works Painting, Inc. d.b.a. College Works Painting (CA) paid a $39,532 fine for violating work practice and recordkeeping requirements.

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EPA aims to protect public from harmful lead exposure.

Barker Whittle One of Perths Most Respected Painting Contractors
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John ThomasCrowl

May 20, 1948 ~ December 16,2014

John Crowl, of Malaga, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, at Central Washington Hospital. He was born in Wenatchee to John M. Crowl and Elizabeth StGermaine. He grew up in Monitor, WA with his brother, Kenneth Ken Hayes and sister, Laverne (Hayes) Araiza. He attended school in Monitor for a while, before they moved to Wenatchee. He then attended school at Stevens school and the old Wenatchee High School. His brother, Darrell Messee was born and then later, brother, Jerry Corder. John served in the Navy during the Vietnam war and was later honorably discharged. John marred Kathy, and his son, Troy K. Crowl, was born in Wenatchee. They later divorced and John married Maria. They had a son, John StGermaine Crowl Jr. They later divorced and John spent some time traveling and working at various jobs as a baker, maintenance man, orchard worker and a painter. He lived in Idaho in various locations with good friends, one who was like a brother to him, James Bro Jim Ross. After that, he moved back to the Wenatchee valley, where he finally found his calling, painting homes. He worked for many painting contractors in the valley and found the job he liked best, working for Chuck Sauvageau of Wenatchee House Cleaners & Painters. John met Marie Voss Crowl, became best friends, fell in love and later married her. They were together for 22 years, but knew each other for over 25 years. John brought his wife, Marie into the painting field, teaching her to paint with him while working for Chuck Sauvageau. Chuck later retired and helped to set John and Marie up in their own business, Amrose Painting. John and Marie became an incredible husband and wife painting team, leaving a trail of happy customers and friends behind, wherever they went. They owned and operated their painting business for 11 years before John recentlyretired.

John is survived by his wife, Marie of Malaga; mother, Elizabeth Austin of Wenatchee; brothers, Jerry Corder (Lynn) of Wenatchee, Darrell Messee (Deborah) of Federal Way and Ken Hayes (Alicia) of Roy, WA; sister, Laverne Araiza of Wenatchee; one granddaughter; and many dear nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his step-dad, Roy W. Austin; grandparents, Tom and Mabel StGermaine; and several dear aunts anduncles.

Johns loss will be felt by many. He made friends wherever he went and he also mentored many young people over theyears.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at First Wenatchee Assembly of God, 1520 McKittrick St., Wenatchee. Donations to help his spouse with funeral expenses can be made to The John Crowl Memorial fund at Cashmere Valley Bank, 1100 Maple St. Arrangements are made by Jones & Jones~Betts FuneralHome.

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John Thomas Crowl (In Memoriam)

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If you are a commercial property owner, investor, or manager, you tend to have a lot on your plate when it comes to maintenance. Certainly, you want your building or complex to look its best, but at the same time, it is essential to keep in mind the bottom line. Functionality and productivity are just as important as appearance, sometimes more so. In addition, any refurbishing needs to be done with minimal disruption to your business or tenants. A good commercial painting contractor will help you achieve your goals. Beyond a fresh new appearance and an appealing color scheme, experienced commercial painters can provide a whole range of related services, together with the smallest possible amount of down time and inconvenience.

Image

Whether your aim is to convey a particular image or establish a distinctive brand, you want your office, mall, plant, school, religious institution, or other commercial property to look welcoming to visitors. With a neat, attractive physical appearance, you will create a good first impression and foster a sense of confidence in your business. A painting firm which is experienced in commercial work will be qualified to give advice on current color trends in your field (for instance, the hotel industry) and how to use color to create an appropriate mood -- soothing blue for a spa, energetic yellow in a factory, or lively red in a restaurant are a few examples. They will use digital color imaging to give you a clear idea of how different hues would look in the context of your setting.

Type of Paint and Related Products

Find a contractor who uses high quality paint, for a good-looking, hardwearing job. Well chosen and applied, commercial paint ought to be able to stand up to five years of heavy use. Your painter should be equipped to advise you about such important topics as the best products for various surfaces (including wood, drywall, concrete, metals, and others), wall and floor solutions for high-traffic areas, and exterior sealants that will increase resistance to severe weather conditions like heavy storms or harsh sunlight. For interiors, low-odor paint will allow redecoration to take place with minimal disturbance to employees and clients, while anti-mold paint and products with low or, even better, no VOCs will safeguard their health.

Preparation

A good commercial paint job begins with proper preparation. Look for a professional painting contractor who will perform a thorough cleanup of the surfaces to be treated, including pressure washing of the exterior, and take care of existing problems such as chipping or peeling paint, water damage, mold, graffiti, rust, damage to the substrate, or concrete spalling. Inside the building, other types of repair may be necessary -- repair or replacement of drywall; patching of nail holes, cracks, dents, and gouges; and retexturing of acoustic ceilings.

Customer Service

Discuss with commercial painters how they will proceed with their work while causing the least interruption to normal business or inconvenience to your clients and employees. An especially service-oriented contractor may offer you flexible scheduling -- that is, working during your off-hours or slow season so that your business can continue to function relatively normally. Consider, also, the safety measures they plan to put in place to protect occupants of the building as well as its equipment and furnishings.

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Commercial painting: more than just pretty walls