Lead Paint Policy

1. Background

The aim of this policy is to protect the health and safety of our tenants, clients, staff and contractors by minimising their exposure to lead paint.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all tenants living in properties owned by Land & Housing Corporation (LAHC).

3. Policy statement

LAHC is responsible for making tenants’ homes safe and healthy places to live.

Lead paint within a property is considered a potential health risk therefore timely and practical actions to protect tenants, staff, contractors as well as neighbours will be taken when working with lead paint in LAHC properties.

Tenants will not be allocated to live in properties with identified lead paint risk until these hazards have been removed.

In properties where children under the age of four years are part of the household, DCJ will act immediately if lead paint is in a form and context that can be directly ingested by children.

4. Legislation and compliance

LAHC acquires and manages properties in accordance with the Housing Act 2001 and the Residential Tenancy Act 2010.

Lead hazard

Lead hazard is a condition that causes exposure to lead and could result in a negative human health effects. High-risk groups are:

• children up to the age of four (4) years
• pregnant women
• those who are occupationally exposed to lead
• adolescents up to the age of sixteen (16) years.

Intact lead paint is not considered a hazard, although the paint should be maintained and its original condition monitored to ensure that it doesn’t deteriorate.

Hazards associated with lead can arise from:

• deteriorating lead contaminated paint or lead paint present on accessible friction or impact surfaces
• lead contaminated paint (lead paint) is any paint, stain, varnish, or other applied coating that has 1mg/cm2 (or 1% by dry weight) or more of lead. These two units of measurement are not interchangeable.
• lead contaminated dust where lead loading exceeds:
  • 1mg/m2 (as lead) for interior floors
  • 5mg/m2 (as lead) for interior window seals
  • 8mg/m2 (as lead) for exterior surfaces
• bare, lead contaminated soil, where lead content exceeds:
  • 300mg/kg (as lead) for residential properties with gardens, including villas and townhouses
  • 1200mg/kg (as lead) for high rise apartments and units.