Asbestos, lead and other chemicals

Page content: Other agencies involved | Asbestos in the home | Latrobe asbestos in the home removal kit | Lead | CCA | Pest control | Safe clean up of mercury spills, including mercury thermometers

Other agencies involved

Other agencies involved in the management of asbestos related issues include the Victorian Workcover Authority and the Environment Protection Authority.

Asbestos in the home

This booklet has been developed for householders who intend to work with or remove asbestos from their home, shed or fence; or carry out maintenance on car brakes, clutches and gaskets at home.

Asbestos in the home: Health and safety in the home (225kb, pdf)

Latrobe asbestos in the home removal kit

The following report is the evaluation of the Latrobe asbestos in the home removal project.

Latrobe City Council Asbestos in the Home Removal Kit: Evaluation Report 2008 (786kb, pdf)

Further information

• List of Asbestos licensed removalist
  Available from the WorkSafe Victoria website.

• For the disposal of asbestos waste refer to the EPA website specifically

• The following document is adapted from the NOHSC Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in Workplaces [NOHSC:2018(2005)]
  Examples of of asbestos-containing materials (94kb, pdf)

Lead

Lead is a health hazard: Lead alert for the home

Are you renovating or carrying out home repairs? Think twice when disturbing old paint:

• Old paint - from before 1970 - often contained high levels of lead.
• Home renovators can unintentionally create a health hazard when scraping or sanding old paint.
• Old paint on doors and windows and skirting boards is more likely to flake and chip because they are used heavily.
• Lead from the dust or flakes of old paint can be a health hazard to young children, pregnant women or pets.

For further information on how to prevent lead exposure from damaged or disturbed paint, read the booklet Lead Alert – The six step guide to Painting your home, produced by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

The enHealth Council has produced a publication on ‘Healthy Homes’ which contains information on lead in the home.

A guide to indoor air quality in the home for buyers, builders and renovators (1352kb, pdf)
This document is also available from the enHealth Council website.

Blood lead levels for Australians: NHMRC information paper and public statement

In August, 2009, the NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) released an information paper and public statement regarding blood lead levels for Australians.

Information paper

This information paper is intended for health care practitioners and policy makers. It provides background information regarding lead exposure and articulates goals and recommendations for Australia.

NHMRC Lead information paper (1040kb, pdf)

Public statement

This public statement from the NHMRC discusses the evidence and makes recommendations on what we should aim for regarding blood lead levels in Australia and also gives some practical advice on minimising exposure to lead.

NHMRC Public statement (554kb, pdf)

Both of these documents are also available on the NHMRC website. 

Lead Sinkers

Do you fish? Do you use lead fishing sinkers?

For further information on preventing lead exposure read the document below.

Lead sinkers and your health (84kb, pdf)

CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenate)

CCA is a chemical preservative used to treat timber to protect it from pest infestation and rotting. CCA treated timber was widely used in the home and the community such as, playgrounds, decks, landscaping, fencing to posts and power poles.

This factsheet has been developed to answer frequently asked questions concerning your health and CCA treated timber.

Your health and Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) treated timber (43kb, pdf)

Pest control

It is an offence to use pesticides for commercial gain in Victoria unless a person holds a Victorian Licence to Use Pesticides. For further information please refer to the Pest control licensing in Victoria website.

Safe clean up of mercury spills, including mercury thermometers

How to safely clean up a mercury spill to protect your health and the environment.

Safe clean up of mercury spills - 2010 (62kb, pdf)

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