Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288:reg:1:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013C00288
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 2/3)
Character Range: 37908–40714

of human health and the environment.

1.4              Acute hazards
Risk of explosion or other acute exposure hazards should be addressed immediately and are not within the scope of this guidance document.
Health effects can be broadly separated into acute and chronic effects. The distinction between acute and chronic exposure relates to the duration of exposure and the timing of onset of any health effects. Acute health effects occur within minutes, hours or days of a relatively short period of exposure, while chronic health effects occur as a result of prolonged or repeated exposures over many days, months or years and symptoms may not be readily apparent.
Most contaminated land assessments will be focussed on chronic health effects; however, some sites may pose acute risks. Assessment of sites with petroleum hydrocarbon contamination will need to consider the potential for acute health risks and the risk of fire and explosion from the presence of light non aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs).
Work health and safety issues should be considered for all sites and managed according to national and jurisdictional legislative requirements.

1.5              Mineralised areas
High levels of metals, metalloids and asbestos can be associated with ore bodies. Soils in mining areas may contain elevated levels of these materials due to natural mineralisation. Some urban areas may be affected by asbestos and various elements including lead, copper, zinc, cadmium and arsenic from the ore bodies, as well as activities associated with mining, smelting and metallurgical industries.

Due to the health concerns associated with asbestos, affected areas should be effectively managed in the short and long term. Naturally occuring asbestos is most likely encountered during exploration and mining operations. Management measures similar to those for free fibre usually apply.

These environments may require specific prevention measures and community awareness programs when human settlement has occurred, to enable appropriate precautions to be taken (for example, preventing the use of potentially contaminated soil or fill from a mining site for growing vegetables in the home garden, constructing driveways or filling private land and publicly accessible areas). Public information about preventing exposure to mineralised or contaminated soil is an essential component of public health programs to minimise community exposure to these contaminants.

Depending on the nature of the contaminants associated with the mining (or quarrying) activity, contaminated soil may be only one of a number of exposure pathways. Local health issues may be more effectively targeted by monitoring key community health parameters such as blood lead or by environmental monitoring of ambient air quality and dust.