Asbestos Management Plans

Any building, structure or identified asbestos on a property should be included in an Asbestos Management Plan. This is a document that details the plan to prevent exposure to asbestos, reduce potential hazards and communicate asbestos procedures to staff, contractors or building users. Although not required by the regulations, WorkSafe Guidance Note Managing Asbestos in a Workplace recommends this a beneficial tool to managing asbestos risks within a workplace.

The Asbestos Management Plan will include.

• What is the plan to manage, remove or encapsulate asbestos?
• When will this be done?
• How will the plans be implemented?
• Who will be responsible for the deadlines or milestones of the plan?

 

When to engage us:

• If you are responsible for managing asbestos in the workplace.
• If no asbestos management plan exists for the asbestos identified onsite.
• If the management plan is due for review.
• If you are unsure of your responsibilities for managing asbestos.

Asbestos can be found in soil due to inappropriate demolition and/or disposal of asbestos from buildings, or contaminated soil being used as landfill.

All asbestos presents a risk in relation to breathing airborne asbestos fibres. When asbestos is in the soil, there is risk of fibres being disturbed and then becoming airborne. Mechanical disturbance includes excavations, vehicle traffic, and potentially pedestrian traffic.

The risk is dependant on the nature, quantity and type of asbestos in the soil. For example, bonded asbestos such as cement sheet material is less hazardous than friable asbestos such as lagging that can easily liberate asbestos fibres when the soil is disturbed.

The Asbestos contained within soil is usually found by visual observation, or an environment site survey/audit. The person who has management control of the soil must ensure any visible asbestos containing material is removed as long as is reasonably practicable.

Safety Systems can inspect the soil to determine the level of contamination and later confirm all visible asbestos containing materials have been removed. We then issue a Statement of Soil Inspection and outcome.

Any removal of Asbestos found within the soil must be carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist.

Risk Assessment of Asbestos in Soil

Safety Systems can provide site inspections and work in conjunction with other stakeholders to assess asbestos contaminated sites. The asbestos soil assessment is based on levels of hazard perceived by our consultants and the proposed use of the land.

We can provide specialist advice on remedial work and management of asbestos contamination, safe work method statements for remedial work, air monitoring and site supervision.

Download the Worksafe Guidance sheet on Asbestos Contaminated Soil.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has been extensively used in building materials globally. Asbestos was most widely used in Australia between the 1940’s and 1980’s. Asbestos is versatile, fire resistant and is an effective insulator, which lead to it having over 3000 world wide applications. It is estimated that one-third of the homes in Australia contain asbestos products.

Asbestos is a hazardous material, due to the health risks associated. Asbestos is carcinogenic and can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. For this reason, asbestos was completely banned in the production of building materials in Australia by 2003. This includes all the three main types of asbestos (Chrysotile, Amosite & Crocilidite).

Asbestos is divided into two categories which present different levels of risk. Friable asbestos is defined as being easily pulverised and has a heightened potential to become airborne when disturbed. Non-friable asbestos fibres are bonded to a substrate and are not as easily disturbed.

To determine whether a product contains asbestos, a sample needs to be analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory. Visual inspection is not sufficient to determine whether building materials contain asbestos.

Asbestos Audits

An asbestos audit inspects, and documents asbestos found in commercial or residential buildings. Depending on the nature, current or ongoing use of a building, the type of audit may vary.

All of our asbestos reports include:

• Types of asbestos identified (both friable and non-friable) and where.
• Details of samples taken (what and where), and laboratory testing results – all samples are analysed by an appropriately accredited NATA laboratory.
• Condition of asbestos containing material and risk ratings.
• Risk of disturbance and how to eliminate or mitigate that risk.
• Inaccessible areas that were not tested, and how they need to be monitored.
• A comprehensive asbestos register for ongoing use.
• Photos of areas identified with asbestos containing materials.

Division 5 Audits

A non-invasive audit of building as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. This audit is general done for buildings or areas of buildings that are currently in use, therefore some areas may be deemed not accessible. This audit will produce a report and asbestos register for your property. The asbestos register needs to be reviewed at least every 5 years.

When to engage us:

• When you are the manager, duty holder or owner of property that should be inspected for asbestos.
• When the building has not previously been inspected for asbestos.
• When your asbestos audit cycle is due for review
• When you are responsible for workers and Occupational Health and Safety is not your primary skill set
• You are unsure of your responsibilities regarding asbestos.

 Division 6 Audits

An invasive audit for buildings or areas of buildings that are to be demolished or refurbished. Areas inaccessible at the time of the audit will be assumed to contain asbestos. The regulations require this audit to be undertaken when the Division 5 audit is not adequate. An example of this may be that there were inaccessible areas reported in the Division 5.

When to engage us:

• When you are the architect, builder, manager, duty holder or owner of property organising refurbishment, renovations, or demolitions.
• When the building has not previously been inspected for asbestos.
• You are unsure of your responsibilities regarding asbestos.

Hazardous Materials Audits

In addition to asbestos, you can request to have the following hazardous materials inspected for.

• Lead in Paint
• Synthetic Mineral Fibres (SMF)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s

   

Asbestos Register Login Details

Our proprietary cloud-based information management system gives you easy access to asbestos reports and registers via QR Codes. This system allows your staff and contractors to access the asbestos register onsite and you to meet your regulatory duty to ensure the asbestos register is readily accessible.

This option means that the asbestos register is in the same place, and the document version is controlled.

To view the system and decide whether this option is right for you, contact our office and we will organise a demonstration for you.

Download product flyer here.

 

Asbestos Removal Visual Clearance Certificate

A clearance certificate is issued at the end of a removal to verify that the removal area is clear of visual asbestos. This certificate confirms that the hazard has been removed the area can be re-occupied.  

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 require that duty holders organise a clearance certificate for each asbestos removal when.

• More than 10m² of non-friable asbestos is being removed.
• For all friable asbestos removals.

The regulations further require that the certificate is issued by a competent person with pre-requisite knowledge of asbestos. Furthermore, the person issuing the clearance should be independent from the removalist.

When to engage us:

• You are the manager or duty holder organising an asbestos removal.
• You are an asbestos removalist conducting an asbestos removal.
• You are unsure of the type or nature of the asbestos removal work going ahead and you would like some free advice on your responsibilities.

Para-occupational Air Monitoring

Asbestos Air Monitoring (Class A – Friable)

Class A air monitoring is done around the perimeter and inside the removal area of an asbestos removal. This monitoring determines whether asbestos fibres are being released from the removal area and whether the control plan is satisfactory for the works being conducted.

the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (NSW) require that duty holders organise air monitoring for all friable asbestos removals.

When to engage us:

• You are the manager or duty holder organising a friable asbestos removal.
• You are an asbestos removalist conducting a friable asbestos removal.
• You are unsure of the type or nature of the asbestos removal work going ahead and you would like some free advice on your responsibilities.

 

Asbestos Air Monitoring (Class B – Non friable)

Class B asbestos air monitoring is done around the perimeter of the removal area to determine whether asbestos fibres are being released. Although air monitoring is not required for regulatory compliance on all non-friable jobs, you may conduct air monitoring for the following reasons.

• When the removal area is in a high traffic, public or sensitive area.
• As quality control – ensuring the removalists control is satisfactory.
• To comply with your workplaces asbestos policies and procedures.

When to engage us:

• You are the manager or duty holder organising a non-friable asbestos removal.
• You are an asbestos removalist conducting a friable asbestos removal.
• You are unsure of the type or nature of the asbestos removal work going ahead and you would like some free advice on your responsibilities.