If not handled properly some building materials can pose a risk to people’s health, particularly in older houses. These include asbestos, lead paints, treated timbers and insulation. When maintaining and renovating older buildings it is important to identify these risks and develop strategies to protect residents and workers from potential health threats. Workplace health and safety requirements in all states and territories set out the minimum precautions that must be followed when dealing with hazardous materials.

Asbestos

Asbestos was used in some building products in Australia until the mid-1980s. Asbestos fibres have been linked to serious lung disease. People who have prolonged exposure to these fibres, such as miners and builders, are particularly at risk. Asbestos might be found in the following areas in older houses:

• internal and external wall sheeting, often called ‘fibro’
• corrugated roofing, also known as ‘fibrolite’ and ‘fibro’ and ‘super 6’
• insulation in ceilings and walls, around hot water pipes, hot water units and air conditioning ducts
• water, drainage and vent pipes
• vinyl floor tiles and glues.

In most cases, the presence of asbestos in buildings does not pose a serious health risk. The exception to this is when materials containing asbestos are cut or broken up and dust and fibres become airborne. This can occur simply as a result of everyday wear and tear or as the result of building works. Special precautions are required when undertaking works in buildings that contain asbestos. Precautions may vary based on the extent of work and the risk and might include:

• using high quality face masks with filters
• wearing disposable, full-body overalls
• wearing gloves and shoes
• wetting down, and keeping wet, all asbestos products while working with them to prevent/reduce the release of dust
• erecting tarpaulins or plastic sheets around the works to contain any dust within the work area
• fully cleaning the site to remove all waste, and wrapping all asbestos waste in heavy plastic packages that are taped, sealed and labelled
• ensuring safe disposal of all building materials and associated protective equipment.

Check the recommendations and requirements of the workplace health and safety office in your state or territory before commencing work in buildings containing asbestos.

Lead

Lead can have a toxic effect on the human body if large quantities are absorbed. Lead can be absorbed through the lungs as airborne particles and through the skin from contact with materials containing lead. Lead can retard development in children and may affect the development of the foetus in women of child-bearing age.

The health effects of lead have been known for many years and most building products no longer contain lead. However, lead was used in paints until the 1970s and may pose a health threat if it has been used on floors because it may be absorbed through bare feet; is peeling or flaking from the walls; or is being sanded or removed during building works. If in good condition on a wall or ceiling, lead paint does not pose a health risk and is probably best left alone.

A simple testing kit is available from most hardware and paint shops to test for the presence of lead in paint before sanding any painted surfaces in older houses. If lead paint is found in a house where building works are proposed, special precautions will need to be taken. These are similar to the precautions for asbestos, such as using dust masks, overalls, gloves and shoes to ensure the worker does not inhale or absorb lead; wetting down the works area and/or using plastic sheet to contain the dust; and fully cleaning up afterwards to remove all dust and paint flakes.

Copper chrome arsenate treated timbers (CCA)

Timbers that have been treated with various chemicals to increase resistance to insect attack and rot can produce noxious dust when they are being sawn, drilled or sanded. Builders should wear a face-mask when they work with treated timbers, particularly with CCA treated timber which contains copper and arsenic.

Exposure to timbers treated with CCA may be harmful to children. In the past, CCA timber was used for children’s play equipment and outdoor fencing and furniture. CCA treated timbers can be identified by a green-grey colour. If CCA treated timber is present in play equipment or other exposed locations in the community, consider painting the timber to reduce the risk of children being exposed to harmful chemicals.

Ensure

• B9.1.1.

  For all hazardous materials, ensure that: workers wear a dust mask with filter, full overalls and shoes

• B9.1.2.

  For all hazardous materials, ensure that: precautions are taken to contain dust within the works area, including wetting down materials and erecting plastic sheets to prevent the spread of dust

• B9.1.3.

  For all hazardous materials, ensure that: the site is fully cleaned of all dust and debris on completion of works and before anyone moves back into the house, in particular remove treated timber that may be used by residents as fire wood.

• B9.1.4.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: seek an expert opinion on the extent of asbestos in the building before commencing any works

• B9.1.5.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: consider engaging experts to remove asbestos from the building as a separate contract, before the builder commences works

• B9.1.6.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: if removing asbestos, ensure the local rubbish dump is licensed to accept asbestos waste

• B9.1.7.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: ensure signs are placed advising of the presence of asbestos where it is known to exist, or there are serious concerns it may exist

• B9.1.8.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: ensure recycled building materials that may contain asbestos are not used in the works

• B9.1.9.

  For buildings with products containing or likely to contain asbestos: consider gluing new linings or claddings over old fibro sheets rather than removing them and place signs stating the presence of fibro if adopting this approach.

• B9.1.10.

  For buildings containing or likely to contain lead paint: test all paint for lead before commencing any work

• B9.1.11.

  For buildings containing or likely to contain lead paint: if lead paint is in good condition, consider painting over with a latex paint or similar product that will ‘capture’ the lead paint

• B9.1.12.

  For buildings containing or likely to contain lead paint: ensure that any paint containing lead that is peeling and flaking is removed to avoid the risk of exposure, and that the paint removal is done according to the work place health and safety recommendations

• B9.1.13.

  For buildings containing or likely to contain lead paint: consider covering over floors that have been painted with lead paints, or if removing the paint from floors, take all necessary precautions.

• the builders follow a risk management plan and work place health and safety requirements, including wearing a face mask, shoes and overalls, and erect barriers to contain dust within the works area
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION

• builders are not handling, cutting or drilling into asbestos products, unless it has been specifically agreed those works are included in the scope of works
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION

• hazardous materials are wrapped in sealed, labelled plastic packages, and are taken to an approved licensed disposal area.
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION

• the works area, including house and yard, has been fully cleaned of all building dust and offcuts or debris.
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

As part of cyclical maintenance:

• create a community register of all buildings that contain or may contain asbestos or lead paint, and make this available to all building and maintenance staff
  

  Who : Housing Management

  When : 24 Months

• regularly inspect houses for the presence of deteriorating materials containing asbestos, and immediately seal exposed edges of damaged building materials containing asbestos with a latex or bituminous paint sealer
  

  Who : Housing Management

  When : 12 Months

• regularly check the condition of lead paint to ensure it is not flaking or peeling
  

  Who : Housing Management

  When : 12 Months

• apply paint to exposed timbers that are CCA treated, particularly play equipment.
  

  Who : Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

Australian Government Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency web page, <https://www.asbestossafety.gov.au>

National Occupational Health and Safety Commission 2005 Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos, [NOHSC: 2002(2005)] available at: http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/F4C389A8-11DD-4819-A190-AC458DC460D5/0/ASCC_SafeRemAsbestos_cop.pdf

Northern Territory Government, Asbestos alert, http://www.asbestos.nt.gov.au/

Enhealth Council  http://enhealth.nphp.gov.au/council/pubs/ecpub.htm

NSW Health - Building hazards, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/diy/Pages/building-hazards.aspx

RMIT - Hazardous Building Materials, https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/documents/PropertyServices/Facilities/Safety-alerts/170824-hazmat-faq.pdf