Dust, ash and other materials can collect in roof cavities. The Department of Health has prepared the following information to provide you with facts about these hazards and steps you can take to protect your health and the health of those in your care.
Hazards that may exist in your roof cavity
The space between your ceiling and the external roof is referred to as a roof cavity. This space may contain various materials including fibreglass fibres, building materials containing asbestos, lead dust from pollution, droppings from animals, fungal spores, pesticides or general household dust.
Natural events and industrial activities in your local area may affect the amount and types of materials that can accumulate in your roof cavity. In certain parts of Victoria, dust from local industry and/or ash from fires may enter your roof cavity. This may include ash from personal heating fires, planned burns, bushfires, coal mine fires or industrial fires.
Hazards in roof cavities posing a risk to health or safety
Hazards in roof cavities that are not disturbed and can be isolated from residents do not pose a health risk.
However, householders may be putting themselves at risk when entering a roof cavity and doing work. There are risks of physical injury (for example falls and electrocution) and potential risks from skin contact or breathing in various materials. It is important to be aware of any risks and the steps you can take to keep safe.
Protect yourself and your family
The best course of action is to not disturb any dust or other materials in your roof cavity.
If you must enter your roof cavity or you are renovating your home, follow these steps to protect yourself and your family:
Before going into a roof cavity
- make sure the roof cavity floor can support you
- turn the electricity off
- use a torch to identify possible hazards
- beware of high temperatures (possible risk of heat exhaustion)
- think about the type and location of insulation materials, electrical wiring and water or gas piping.
Many homes built before the 1990s contain asbestos cement materials particularly in eaves, asbestos heater flues, ceilings and ceiling hole covers.
If there are asbestos-containing materials in your roof cavity, see the Asbestos in Victoria website for information about how to manage these safely.
While working in a roof cavity
- wear appropriate safety equipment such as:
- a P1 or P2 face mask that meets Australian Standard AS/NZS 1716. These are available from local hardware stores
- appropriate gloves and footwear
- long-sleeved, loose-fitting clothes.
- keep the work area clear of dust and place waste in thick plastic bags.
- take care when accessing and walking across the work area to avoid falling through the ceiling, tripping over debris, roof trusses, or ceiling materials.
- make sure you don't come in contact with, or damage, any electrical cables or equipment. If any electrical cable or equipment is damaged, stop work and engage a licensed electrical contractor.
- contact your local council for advice about additional protection that may be required if you have an asbestos cement roof or concerns that asbestos building materials in the roof cavity are in poor condition.
- do not use a household vacuum cleaner in roof spaces. They can release dust that may contain hazardous materials,into the air.
- advise contractors doing work in roof spaces of any known hazards.
After going into a roof cavity
- dispose of debris, waste and disposable safety equipment appropriately (seek advice from your local council)
- shower and wash any non-disposable clothing separately.
More information
If you have been exposed to materials in your roof cavity and are concerned about your health, see your GP (doctor) or call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24.
For more information on the potential health effects from exposure to hazards in roof cavities call the Department of Health on 1300 761 874 during business hours
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