Tide Turns Toward Certification, Will Lead Specialists be Next?

While on the one hand the Lead Reference Centre (part of the NSW EPA), NSW WorkCover and Department of Fair Trading all seem to think that accreditation of ceiling dust removalists and lead remediation / abatement contractors and lead assessors / inspectors is not feasible, the tide is surely turning, as, on the other hand:-

1. the federal Department of Works and Services have approved ceiling dust removalists through the SANIP (Sydney Aircraft Noise Insulation Project);

2. the Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP) approves painters for industrial paint removal and is being extended to household paint removal contractors (see below);

3. the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) accredits assessors / auditors for contaminated sites (see below);

4. the North Lake Macquarie Environmental Health Centre approves contractors for Boolaroo area zonal remediation including: soil removal, carpet removal, carpet cleaning, lead paint removal and ceiling dust removal

5. a similar approval system operates in Port Pirie

6. a similar approval system operates in Broken Hill

7. NSW WorkCover licenses asbestos removal contractors.

8. Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP)

Reference: APAS NEWS, Australian Paint Approval Scheme, Issue 10: July 1998.

The first applications for certification to Class 5, Lead Paint Management have been audited and interim certification has been granted to three contractors:

• McElligot and Partners, Victoria,

• Waldean Industries, NSW

• TPC Painting Contractors, Tasmania.

Full certification has been deferred until the Blast Cleaners & Coating Association (BCCA) has ratified lead paint management courses for contract staff.

Development of the PCCP [Painting Contractor’s Certification Program] to encompass decorative and architectural painting moved a step closer at the May [1998] meeting of the PCCP Management Board with the BCCA, Master Painters Association (MPA) and Scientific Services Laboratory (SSL) agreeing in principle to a new Memorandum of Understanding.

The MPA’s training officer and the PCCP Manager have been developing the ground rules for certification of contractors. The scheme will focus on certifying contractors working on commercial buildings. However, it is envisaged that the scheme will be extended to "Lead Paint Management" and eventually to "Domestic" painting.

NSW Appoints Accredited Contaminated Site Auditors

Clayton Utz – dynamic law firm - sent us the following media release on 30^th July 1998.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in NSW has accredited 21 of an estimated 40 site auditors which it hopes to have in place before the end of 1998.

Mr Bateman, a senior associate with national law firm Clayton Utz, said the appointments were of auditors who are registered in Victoria as accredited site auditors under Victorian environmental legislation and whose qualifications have been accepted in NSW under ‘mutual recognition’ legislation.

"These appointments will now mean that audits of contaminated land – or land suspected of being contaminated – required for a statutory purpose, can be carried out, as the Contaminated Land Act requires, by accredited site auditors, Mr Bateman said.

[Ed: are domestic contaminated sites included?]