Purpose
Our company will implement a risk management based strategy designed to safeguard exposure to respirable asbestos fibres. The strategy will take into account all buildings and structures built prior to, and including 2004.
Scope
The Policy applies to all Building Owners and Occupiers that have obligations to manage and control asbestos-containing material.
While the majority of the asbestos-containing material is likely to be found in buildings, PCBU should be aware that asbestos-containing material may be found in other assets such as vessels, vehicles, plant. Appropriate management regimes should be implemented to ensure any associated risks are appropriately managed.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors and volunteers of our company.
Policy Statement
The system and process for the management, control and removal of asbestos-containing material must address the requirements of:
State or Territory jurisdiction/regulators
Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation
National and State Codes of Practice
Government asset management policies including the Capital Works Management
This policy shall ensure that:
- Our company will take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of workers, contractors and the community from the risks associated with asbestos-containing material within the building
- A risk management based approach will be adopted for the management and control of asbestos-containing material
- Our company will be responsible for ensuring the removal of asbestos-containing material is considered in conjunction with building renovation, refurbishment, demolition and maintenance programs
- Buildings with asbestos-containing material should not be purchased or leased for occupancy unless all alternatives have been considered and an asbestos management plan has been developed to address the assessed risk
- An Asbestos Management Plan is developed to address the risks associated with the identification, removal, storage and transport of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
For government-controlled buildings, departments will ensure:
- Required surveys are undertaken
- Site-specific asbestos management plans are maintained
- Required information is provided to the registers of asbestos-containing material
- Registers will be maintained to record the presence, or presumed presence, of asbestos-containing material within all government, controlled buildings
- Departments will consult with workers and their representatives, contractors and the community in relation to the management and control of asbestos-containing material in all government controlled buildings
Our company shall ensure that this strategy is based on a risk management approach and involves:
- Identification and recording of asbestos-containing material
- Assessment of the risks posed by the asbestos-containing material identified
- Management of in situ asbestos-containing material based on its assessed level of risk
- Removal of asbestos-containing material based on its assessed level of risk
- Development and maintenance of effective consultation frameworks and awareness training programs
Procedure
ACM’s in the workplace
In relation to buildings that are workplaces, implementation will be through the introduction or continuation of the following actions:
- Identification and recording of asbestos-containing material
- Development of registers of asbestos-containing material with online internet access to ensure ready access to reliable and current data (a separate register is to be maintained by the Department of Communities for domestic premises under its control)
- Undertaking surveys and recording the results in the registers of asbestos-containing material
- Assessment of the risk posed by the asbestos-containing material identified
- Undertaking surveys of in situ asbestos-containing material and assessing the risk associated with that material
- Ensuring that records relating to the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing material are maintained accordingly
ACM’s in-situ Management of in situ asbestos-containing material is based on its assessed level of risk:
- Development and maintenance of Asbestos Management Plans
- Development of protocols and guidelines for the management of in situ asbestos-containing material including the effective use of Asbestos Management Plans, work area access permits, signage and labelling
- Maintenance of the registers of asbestos-containing material to record all changes in the status of confirmed or presumed asbestos containing material and works undertaken in areas where asbestos-containing material has been confirmed or is presumed, to exist
- Development and implementation of education and training programs on asbestos management and control
- Continued support for research into asbestos issues and promulgation of that research across departments e.g. research that assists in assessing and monitoring the health and environmental risks of asbestos-containing material is relevant.
- Removal of asbestos-containing material based on its assessed level of risk
- Removal of any identified high risk and/or friable asbestos-containing material in a poor condition as an immediate priority
- Development and implementation of programs, where necessary, for the removal of asbestos-containing material where a risk assessment indicates the need for removal
- Removal of asbestos-containing material, wherever feasible, during the renovation, refurbishment, demolition and maintenance works instead of enclosure, encapsulation or sealing
- Development and maintenance of an effective consultation framework and awareness training programs
- Development of a framework for full and open consultation with workers, their representatives and the community on matters related to asbestos-containing material
- Development and implementation of measures to ensure that workers, contractors and the community are aware of the risks associated with asbestos-containing material and their responsibilities as part of those measures
Specific legislative requirements
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
S422 Asbestos to be identified or assumed at the workplace
- A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or ACM at the workplace is identified by a competent person.
- A person with management or control of a workplace must—
- if material at the workplace cannot be identified but a competent person reasonably believes that the material is asbestos or ACM—assume that the material is asbestos; and
- if part of the workplace is inaccessible to workers and likely to contain asbestos or ACM—assume that asbestos is present in the part of the workplace.
- Subsection (1) does not apply if the person—
- assumes that asbestos or ACM is present; or
- has reasonable grounds to believe that asbestos or ACM is not present.
- If asbestos or ACM is assumed to be present at a workplace, it is taken to be identified at the workplace.
S423 Analysis of sample
- A person with management or control of a workplace may identify asbestos or ACM by arranging for a sample of material at the workplace to be analysed for the presence of asbestos or ACM.
- If a person with management or control of a workplace arranges for an analysis, the person must ensure that the sample is analysed only by
- a NATA-accredited laboratory accredited for the relevant test method; or
- a laboratory approved by the regulator in accordance with guidelines published by SafeWork Australia; or
- a laboratory operated by the regulator.
S424 Presence and location of asbestos to be indicated
- A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure that –
- the presence and location of asbestos or ACM identified at the workplace is clearly indicated; and
- if it is reasonably practicable to do so, indicate the presence and location of the asbestos or ACM by a label.
S425 Asbestos register
- A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure that a register (an asbestos register) is prepared and kept at the workplace.
- The person must ensure that the register is maintained to ensure the information in the register is up to date.
The asbestos register must:
- record any asbestos or ACM identified to be at the workplace, or likely to be present at the workplace from time to time including:
- the date on which the asbestos or ACM was identified; and
- the location, type and condition of the asbestos or ACM; or
- state that no asbestos or ACM is identified at the workplace if the person knows that no asbestos or ACM is identified, or is likely to be present from time to time, at the workplace.
- The person is not required to prepare an asbestos register for a workplace if a register has already been prepared for that workplace.
- Subject to subsection (6), this section applies to build whenever constructed.
This section does not apply to a workplace if:
- the workplace is a building that was constructed after 31 December 2003; and
- no asbestos has been identified at the workplace; and
- no asbestos is likely to be present at the workplace from time to time.
S426 Review of the asbestos register
A person with management or control of a workplace where an asbestos register is kept must ensure that the register is reviewed and, as necessary, revised if:
- the asbestos management plan is reviewed; or
- further asbestos or ACM is identified at the workplace; or
- asbestos is removed from or disturbed, sealed or enclosed at, the workplace.
S427 Access to asbestos register
- A person with management or control of a workplace where an asbestos register is kept must ensure that the asbestos register is readily accessible to
- a worker who has carried out carries out or intends to carry out, work at the workplace; and
- a health and safety representative who represents a worker mentioned in paragraph (a); and
- a person conducting a business or undertaking who has carried out carries out or intends to carry out, work at the workplace; and
- a person conducting a business or undertaking who has required, requires, or intends to require, work to be carried out at the workplace.
- If a person conducting a business or undertaking carries out or intends to carry out, work at a workplace that involves a risk of exposure to airborne asbestos, the person with management or control of the workplace must ensure that the person is given a copy of the asbestos register.
S428 Transfer of asbestos register by person relinquishing management or control
If a person with management or control of a workplace plans to relinquish management or control of the workplace, the person must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the asbestos register is given to the person, if any, assuming management or control of the workplace.
S429 Asbestos management plan
This section applies if asbestos or ACM is:
- identified at a workplace, or
- likely to be present at a workplace from time to time.
- A person with management or control of the workplace must ensure that a written plan (an asbestos management plan) for the workplace is prepared.
- A person with management or control of the workplace must ensure that the asbestos management plan is maintained to ensure the information in the plan is up to date.
- An asbestos management plan must include information relating to the following
- the identification of asbestos or ACM; and
- decisions, and reasons for decisions, about the management of asbestos at the workplace; and
- procedures for detailing incidents or emergencies involving asbestos or ACM at the workplace; and
- workers carrying out work involving asbestos
- A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure that a copy of the asbestos management plan for the workplace is readily accessible to -a worker who has carried out, carries out or intends to carry out, work at the workplace; and
- a health and safety representative who represents a worker mentioned in paragraph (a); and
- a person conducting a business or undertaking who has carried out, carries out or intends to carry out, work at the workplace; and
- a person conducting a business or undertaking who has required, requires, or intends to require work to be carried out at the workplace.
S430 Review of the asbestos management plan
A person with management or control of a workplace that has an asbestos management plan must ensure that the plan is reviewed and, as necessary, revised in the following circumstances:
- there is a review of the asbestos register or a control measure;
- asbestos is removed from, or disturbed, sealed or enclosed at, the workplace;
- the plan is no longer adequate for managing asbestos or ACM at the workplace;
- a health and safety representative requests a review under subsection (2);
- at least once every 5 years.
- A health and safety representative for workers at a workplace may request a review of an asbestos management plan if the representative reasonably believes that –
- a circumstance mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) affects or may affect the health and safety of a member of the work group represented by the health and safety representative; and
- the person with management and control of the workplace has not adequately reviewed the asbestos management plan in response to the circumstance.
Responsibilities
Contractors have a responsibility to ensure any work that will disturb asbestos-containing material (e.g. removal, maintenance work or the installation/alteration of services) is undertaken in accordance with all relevant Codes of Practice, legislative requirements and issued instructions. In particular, the engagement of contractors will require the contractor to:
- Ascertain whether the asbestos-containing material is present or is presumed to be present in the work area
- Obtain a work area access permit before commencing any work in an area where asbestos is present or presumed to be present and may be disturbed during the course of the work
- Ensure the work performed is accurately described on the work area access permit
- Employ prescribed work methods and ensure that workers have received instruction and training on working safely with asbestos containing material
Definition
ACM – Asbestos Containing Material
Asbestos - is a common term used to describe the fibrous form of a group of naturally occurring mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of rock-forming minerals. The most common types of asbestos found in building materials are Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Crocidolite (blue asbestos).
Bonded (Non-friable)- describes asbestos-containing materials (ACM) where the asbestos fibres are firmly interwoven in the material and thus pose a lower risk to health and the environment
Friable - easily broken up; crumbly
In-situ - in the original place