How safe is having lead on your roof?
Lead roofing and flashings are much more likely to be a health hazard for people working with the materials than for people living in a building with these features.
Lead has been used for roofing for centuries and is one of the oldest flashing materials. It is durable and soft enough to be formed into complex shapes. Lead roofing and flashings can last over 200 years. Generally speaking, lead roofing or flashing that is in good shape may safely be left in place. After several years on your roof, it will have a protective patina coating that will render the lead unable to contact the air - making it harmless. Patina protects the environment from the lead. If you remove it, be careful to try not to bend it. If you break the patina, the lead will become exposed again.
Exposure to lead: Health damage can be permanent
Lead can have many subtle, but serious, long term health effects
Lead is a cumulative poison. When inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin, it is toxic to virtually every human organ
From a single exposure, lead is quickly distributed and stored through the body where it remains a long term source of internal exposure
Exposure to lead can have a broad range of health effects depending on the amount of lead present and the length of exposure. The greater the exposure, the greater the impact on health
Tips to protect yourself when working with lead
Wear protective work clothing such as respirator, safety glasses and gloves
Never eat, drink, or smoke in the work area
Always practice a high standard of personal hygiene. Wash your hands and face and scrub your nails with soap and water before eating or drinking and before leaving work or smoking
Food, cigarettes and tobacco can easily become contaminated when you handle lead
Lead can be absorbed through sweat pores in the skin
Shower and change into clean clothes and shoes at work before you go home
Keep dirty work clothes and shoes in a separate bag from your clean street clothes
If the above recommended hygiene is not possible, purchase hand wipes for use prior to eating, drinking or smoking and be sure to shower as soon as you get home and wash your work clothes in a separate load from your non-work clothes and the rest of the family’s clothes
Lucky our team are professionally trained to handle lead work in all the correct ways.
Contact the team for your free lead roofing report at kyle@heritageslateroofing.com.au or give us a call 0451 399 226
Hope you enjoyed the read,
Regards,
Team Heritage.
