$38.50
Webinar Recording
Date: Friday 28th March 2025 Title: AIOH 3M Best Paper Award Presenter: Andrew Orfanos
Member Price: $0.00 (discount applied at checkout) Non-Member Price: $38.50 (inc GST)
Session Description: Utilisation of the NEPM HIL for lead in soil significantly overestimates worker exposure to lead associated with lead containing dusts that may be present within south Australian government buildings
Traditionally, hazardous materials consultants have utilised the most sensitive and protective National Environmental Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure (the NEPM) Health Investigation Level (HIL) for Lead in soil to assess the risk of lead exposure associated with lead containing dust present within commercial infrastructure.
Over the last twelve months, the South Australian (SA) Government Department for Transport and Infrastructure (DIT) has utilised a simple risk-based approach developed by VA Sciences to both assess and compare worker exposure to lead that links Safe Work Australia lead risk work criteria to existing lead abatement clearance levels, with the use of the NEPM HIL for lead in soil traditionally used by Hazardous Materials Consultants.
Comparison of side by side dust samples collected using both of these approaches has suggested that utilisation of the NEPM HIL for lead in soil has likely overestimated potential lead exposure risk. This has resulted in the unnecessary implementation of expensive and lengthy lead remediation activities prior to workers gaining access to these areas to undertake simple ad hoc building refurbishment or facility maintenance activities within South Australian government infrastructure.
This paper will explain how the utilisation of the most sensitive NEPM HIL for lead in soil of 300 mg/kg and the inconsistent sampling methodologies utilised by hazardous materials consultants has likely brought about a significant overestimation of a worker’s potential exposure to lead associated with lead containing dusts. It also describes how taking a simple risk-based screening approach to initially assess worker exposure to lead that links Safe Work Australia lead risk work criteria to lead abatement clearance levels can still adequately protect workers and significantly reduce taxpayers’ money being used on unnecessary lead remediation activities.
View previous campaigns.
