Working on asbestos containing material what every tradie needs to know. Halil Ahmet - Principal Occupational Hygienist WorkSafe Victoria

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2 Working on asbestos containing material what every tradie needs to know Halil Ahmet - Principal Occupational Hygienist WorkSafe Victoria

3 Agenda What is asbestos and where can it be found? Health hazards and risk to health Scoping a job Asbestos Registers Div 5 and Div 6 Asbestos removal work - Licensed (Notification and Clearance Certificates) - Permitted unlicensed

4 What is Asbestos? Chrysotile (white) Crocidolite (blue) Naturally occurring fibrous mineral Excellent tensile strength, heat and chemical resistance Amosite (brown)

5 Asbestos categories/forms Friable - hand pressure results in powder Non-friable Over 3000 products. Widely used in building products in Australia prior to the mid 1980 s.

6 Types of asbestos containing material (ACM) Asbestos cement (AC) roofs, walls, eaves, etc. AC electrical fuse/switch boards AC flues AC moulded prods gutters, cappings etc. AC sheet underlay for vinyl AC drain pipes Boiler insulation/gaskets/seal Cement render Electric heat banks block insulation Floor vinyl sheet Floor vinyl tiles Fuse surrounds in switches Millboard between heating units and lining switchboxes Paint (typically industrial epoxy paints) Plaster plaster cornice adhesives Sealant or mastic on windows Tilux sheeting in place of ceramic tiles in bathrooms

7 Building materials pre 1990 s may contain asbestos

8 Assorted asbestos cement roof materials

9 Asbestos cement eaves Imitation bricks

10 Asbestos cement sheeting Asbestos containing vinyl tiles

11 Asbestos containing electrical components

12 Asbestos Containing Materials Asbestos rope seal (in flange)

13 Asbestos Containing Materials Damaged and exposed pipe lagging

14 Poorly undertaken renovation asbestos cement sheeting

15 Health hazards of asbestos and risk to health The risk is from inhalation of respirable fibres. Concentration, frequency and duration key factors. Asbestosis (10 years + to develop) - heavy and prolonged exposure Lung Cancer (20 years + to develop) - heavy and prolonged exposure, greater risk for smokers Mesothelioma (20 40 years + to develop) Victoria 2015: 147 new cases of mesothelioma (Australia 650) Australian Mesothelioma Registry Mesothelioma in Australia 2015

16 Australian Mesothelioma Registry Mesothelioma in Australia 2015

17 01 If uncertain ASSUME asbestos containing OR get a sample analysed by a laboratory accredited by the National Association Testing Authority (NATA) for asbestos identification (

18 When scoping a job look out for asbestos For an established workplace: Ask to see the asbestos register* (Division 5 or 6) Div 5 required for all workplaces with asbestos Div 6 required for workplaces with asbestos about to be demolished or refurbished Look out for asbestos labels in the workplace If uncertain* - assume asbestos containing or sample for (NATA) analysis Discuss the presence of asbestos with the owner best to be up front with the owner Removal may (usually will) be required if the asbestos is to be disturbed * Note: Buildings built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos no clear cut off date when asbestos ceased being used

19 Division 5 - Persons with management or control and employer duties for an established workplace: Identify* asbestos and create an asbestos register Label asbestos containing materials, if reasonably practicable Owner to provide register to employer in the workplace and access to others Employer to make register accessible to all employees and others Ensure register is current (must be less than 5 years old and include any changes to the ACM) Control the risk via hierarchy * Person performing identification must be competent

20 Asbestos Registers Division 5 and Division 6 Division 5 Asbestos Registers no refurbishment or demolition to be undertaken Division 6 Asbestos Registers where refurbishment or demolition is to occur: - Division 5 Asbestos Register to be reviewed - If Division 5 Asbestos Register is inadequate it needs to be revised once revised/redone it is referred to as a Division 6 Asbestos Register Always ask for the latest Asbestos Register - Understand the Register - If you don t understand it ASK for clarity, don t just accept it - If it doesn t address your work area ask for it to be reviewed/revised

21 Example of an asbestos register

22 When scoping a job look out for asbestos. For domestic premises: Don t expect an asbestos register or labels Tradie/employer must identify* any asbestos that may be disturbed Train employees on what might be asbestos - awareness Create/use a checklist to assist in identifying asbestos If uncertain assume asbestos containing or sample for (NATA) analysis Discuss the presence of asbestos with the owner best to be up front with the owner Be familiar with licensed asbestos removalists that could be engaged * Note: Buildings built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos no clear cut off date when asbestos ceased being used

23 Asbestos checklist consider Consider engaging a competent person to draft you a checklist focusing on areas you generally work in. For houses: House built pre 1990 Linoleum Vinyl tiles Glue beneath tiles (black) Cement sheet like material beneath tiles Eaves Guttering Make YOUR checklist specific to YOUR work Wall sheets in wet areas kitchen, laundry, toilet Corrugated roof sheets (super 6) Cladding on a garage or shed Switchboard, old fuses Boiler (hot water tank) flues e.g. Electrician: switchboard, old fuses, backing material in the switchboard cupboard, walls/ceilings (where holes are drilled), ceiling spaces where wires are conveyed (roof and roof dust, insulation on beams and redundant pipes), telecommunication pits, etc.

24 When must you have a WorkSafe licence to remove ACM? Licence required* when ACM to be removed is: friable any amount; or non-friable and is greater than 10 square metres; or non-friable and will take more than 1 hour in total (per job and week and it s against the company) Type of Licence Class A licence allows removal of all forms of ACM Class B licence allows removal of only non-friable ACM List of licensed removalists available on the WorkSafe Victoria website - * Not required if homeowner undertakes their own removal

25 Licensed removal work Notification and Clearance Certificates All licensed removal work must be notified to WorkSafe Any removal of: Friable ACM OR Non-friable ACM greater than 10 square metres - requires a Clearance Certificate before the area can be re-occupied - Clearance Certificate must state there is no visible asbestos residue (if friable removed must also include air monitoring) - Clearance Certificate must be o obtained by removalist if the removalist was engaged by homeowner o obtained by employer who engaged removalist in all other cases o issued by a competent independent person e.g. hygienist

26 Permitted unlicensed removal - less than 10 sqm of non-friable ACM & takes less than 1 hour Must still be appropriately trained and have controls in place. Controls include: Respirator with P1 or P2 filters (or disposable P1 or P2 mask) Coveralls type 5 Segregate/isolate the removal area No brooms use damp rags or a Dust Class H vacuum cleaner No power tools only hand tools No unnecessary breaking Do not spread asbestos contamination Double wrap in thick (200 micron) plastic Do not re-use disposable mask or coveralls Dispose of waste at an EPA licensed landfill

27 More information - check it out before you do your next job WorkSafe Advisory Service for advice or complaints - all Occupational Health and Safety information - for licensed landfills that accept asbestos - for NATA accredited analysts to identify asbestos (across Australia)

28 Don t risk it

29 Thank you.