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ALL THE QUESTIONS

Is the radioactive source appliance used to detect lead dangerous?
Not really as it is a sealed source, and the people using it are trained on how to operate it properly. Take care however to check what is on the other side if you are using it on a thin partition wall.
Should you be careful with old buildings (built before the appearance of toxic substances)?
Yes, there is a strong chance that toxic substances have been introduced during renovation work on the building.
There is work being performed in my home

Is work going to be performed in the home you are renting? Do you know what year your building/house dates from? You can ask if an asbestos / PCB / lead diagnosis has been performed in your accommodation. You can get this information from your property manager or owner.

Under which circumstances can the Service de toxicologie de l'environnement bâti impose fines?
The Service de Toxicologie de l'Environnement Bâti (Built Environment Toxicology Department—STEB) has been authorised to stop worksites and impose fines since 2008. The fines may be from 200 CHF to 400,000 CHF (art. 18 LALPE).
Under which conditions must a lead diagnosis be performed?
In cases where paintwork is damaged (flaking or dusty) and in any case where work activity creates dust.
Was the prohibition on asbestos national or was there international coordination?
Asbestos was prohibited gradually, each country has its own date of prohibition. In Switzerland, asbestos was prohibited in 1989.
What about urgent work (such as a leak that means tiling has to be broken and repaired)?

Some of the companies on the list of asbestos removers carry out this kind of small scale emergency work. 

What are the stages for leaving an asbestos confinement area?
4 stages are required: 1. The asbestos remover goes under the vacuum device 2. They remove their coveralls 3. They take a shower 4. They get dressed. The 4th stage may be ignored and the asbestos remover can get dressed in the apartment (see CFST No. 6503 on the asbestos directives)
What do you do with asbestos waste?
There are three processing routes depending on the type of waste: - Disposal in inert landfills (décharge matériaux inertes—DCMI) for strongly bonded materials - Disposal in a controlled landfill (Bioactive) for loosely bonded materials - Inerting/glassification: Heating asbestos to very high temperatures (about 1,600 °C, which requires a plasma furnace) transforms it into inert glass.
What does the diagnosis expert do?

During a diagnosis, an expert identifies materials that may contain asbestos, PCB and/or lead. They take samples, whilst taking care not to contaminate the premises, and send them to a laboratory for analysis. They issue a report interpreting the analyses and clearly indicate the areas containing hazardous substances that must be removed or be subject to special precautions.