|
Leichhardt's
Breakthrough
A Model Condition for all Councils to use for Building Consents
By Elizabeth O’Brien,
Manager, Lead Advisory Service (LAS) NSW
Leichhardt Council has recognised it’s
responsibilities in the area of Building and Development Consents and has shown what can
be done by an informed and committed Council.
As a result of problems experienced with a Building
Application and issues raised by residents in respect of lead contamination, Council
employed a consultant to devise a standard condition for building works to be provided on
all future Building and Development Consents.
Residents of Leichhardt have contacted the Lead Advisory
Service to thank Councillor Neil Macindoe, Stuart McDonald (the Director of Environmental
Management) and Graham Foster (General Manager) for all the hard work they put into
organising a new lead-aware Demolition Condition.
Other lead-aware initiatives of Leichhardt Council that
pleased residents were a move to have all children’s playgrounds assessed for lead
and a new policy on stopping works where sanding / grinding or water-blasting was being
carried out on pre-1970 buildings without containment or HEPA vacuuming.
Unfortunately Leichhardt Council could not put into its
policies that you should use licensed or approved contractors, because there is no system
for the approval or licensing of lead abatement contractors or lead assessors (see Topic
8: Hiring a Lead Safe Contractor).
Leichhardt’s Standard Condition for Lead-Safe
Demolition Work
Unless tested by a person with suitable experience and
expertise and shown to be otherwise, buildings constructed before 1970 are assumed to:
- - Have accumulated hazardous amounts of fine lead dust in
ceiling and wall cavities: and
- - Contain components and surfaces coated with lead paint.
Demolition is to be conducted in strict accordance with,
but not limited to, sections 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 3.1 and 3.9 of the Australian Standard 2601
– 1991, demolition of structures. The following measures must be undertaken:-
- Prior to the demolition the applicant shall submit a Work
Plan prepared in accordance with AS 2601 by a person with suitable expertise and
experience. The Work Plan should outline the identification of any hazardous materials,
method of demolition, the precautions to be employed to minimise any dust nuisance and the
disposal methods for hazardous materials.
- Hazardous dust must not be allowed to escape from the site,
the use of fine mesh dust proof screens or other measures is recommended.
- All contractors and employees directly involved in the
removal of hazardous dusts and substances shall wear protective equipment conforming to
Australian Standard 1716 Respiratory Protective Devices and shall adopt work practices in
accordance with the requirements of WorkSafe Australia Standard "Control of Inorganic
Lead At Work (NOHSC: 1012 (1994) and NOHSC: 2015 (1994))".
- Any existing accumulations of dust (e.g.; ceiling voids and
wall cavities) must be removed by the use of an industrial vacuum fitted with a high
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
- All dusty surfaces and dust created from work is to be
suppressed by a fine water spray. Water must not be allowed to enter the street and
stormwater systems.
- Demolition is not to be performed during high winds, which
may cause dust to spread beyond the site boundaries.
- Demolition work may be undertaken by hand tools or
machinery. If heavy machinery is to be used, work practices must comply with item (1),
greater care.
- All lead-contaminated materials are to be disposed of in
accordance with the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s requirements.
- Following demolition activities, soil must be tested by a
person with suitable expertise, to ensure the soil lead levels are below acceptable health
criteria for residential areas. Full certification is to be provided to Council prior to
final inspection. This Condition is to ensure the safety and health of occupants and
visitors to the premises and for the protection of the environment.
|
