What Lies Beneath - Aventri · What is Asbestos Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, that is...

What Lies Beneath

Asbestos is a real killer!

60,000 Australians were killed in World War One

What is Asbestos

● Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, that is mined, processed and used for its resilient properties.

● Asbestos is the name given to the family of silicate materialsthat are fibrous in structureand more resistant to heat and acid than other materials.

Different Classifications of Asbestos

Non-Friable (Bonded)Friable

● Asbestos in a stable matrix

● Not easy to crumble

● Easy to crumble

● Pulverise; or

● Reduce to a power

Examples

Friable: Sprayed on asbestos insulation materials, ropes and tapes, limpet, lagging, loose-fill ceiling insulation, Low Density Board (LDB).

ExamplesNon-Friable: Asbestos Cement (Fibro) sheeting, electrical backing boards, vinyl floor tiles

Examples of Friable Asbestos

Friable Insulation Friable Flue Wrap

Friable Pipe Lagging

Examples of Non-Friable Asbestos

Vinyl tiles containing bonded asbestos

Bonded asbestos electrical backing board

Bonded asbestos cement

(AC) sheeting

Size

Non-Friable deemed as Friable

Under some circumstances Non-Friable Asbestos may be deemed Friable Asbestos:

Examples include:

● Asbestos cement sheeting that has been crushed to a powder

● Asbestos cement sheeting that has deteriorated

● Exposure to Fire has destroyed the bonded matrix holding the asbestos

Lesser Known Forms of Asbestos

● LDB - Low Density Board

● Vermiculite with added Asbestos

● Vinyl Tiles, Underlay and Glues

● Compressed Sheeting for Under flooring

● Mill Board - inside old air conditioning systems - friable

● Mastics / Caulking / Window Putties

● Electrical Meter Boards

● Storm Water / Gutters / Air vents-Whirlybirds.

Lesser Known Forms of Asbestos

Mill Board - Friable

Image Source: Asbestos Council of Victoria - Gards

History of Asbestos

There are over 3000 products known to

have contained asbestos.

Most public buildings built during the

1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s contain

materials manufactured with asbestos.

Asbestos has been used for thousands

of years, for its resilient properties.

1000’s of Years Over 3000 Products

Modern Day Issues

This can really put a spin on things!

What does “Asbestos Free” mean?

Recent Cases:

• Perth hospital: Some roof panel samples

found to contain Asbestos

• Asbestos-tainted building product in a Brisbane

office tower

Built anything recently?

Checked with your supplies for a NATA certificate?

Public Relations Nightmare

● Emotive Subject

● Negative publicity comes very quickly

Have systems in place to manage asbestos issues

quickly

System for allowing testing

If you presume material is asbestos you must treat and manage it as if it is asbestos. There are significant long term costs associated with this.

Cheaper to Analyse than Presume

Online Sample LoggingCan you log your samples online using a tablet or a phone?

Prepare and Keep a Register

Asbestos Register (Regulation 425)

A person with management or control of a workplace must ensure that an Asbestos Register is prepared and kept

at the workplace, for all buildings that were built prior to 31 December 2003.

• Do all staff and contractors know where to find the register?

• Do you tell contractors where the register can be found?

• Has the register been lost or stolen?

Review Asbestos Register

Review of Asbestos Register (Regulation 426)

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 at least every 5 years, or whenever further ACM is identified, or any

ACM is removed, disturbed, sealed or enclosed.

• Something Changed? Update Register

• Register more than 5 years old - update register

Are all your registers up to date?

Access to Asbestos Register

“A poor register shared is better than an awesome

register that sits in a top draw somewhere” Not!

Access to the Asbestos Register (Regulation 427)

Ensure that the asbestos register is readily accessible to workers, visitors and contractors.

● Does your register go walkabout?

● How do you KNOW that the register has been provided?

● Can you send an up to date copy of the register with purchase order?

Leafy Green Shire Council

Scan the QR code to review this buildings

Asbestos Register

Simply download a QR reader from your app store. Please contact Security if you require further information.

Unexpected Finds Protocol

Incidents often occur in uncontrolled environments, around unprotected workers and are not properly acted upon.

Work should be stopped and access restricted

● Do not try to clean it up

● Do not cover it up

● Do not wet it down

● Do not walk it around on your boots

● Do Restrict Access to the area and surrounds

● Do call an expert

Caution!!!

Stop

Management Plan

Asbestos Management Plan (Regulation 429)

A person with management or control of a workplace where asbestos has been identified must ensure that an

Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) is prepared, maintained and reviewed at least every 5 years, or more frequently

in certain circumstances.

● What is an AMP?

● Are you being consulted?

Soil

If you manage a property and you are having soil

delivered to that property you should be fully aware of

what is in that soil.

Legal Obligations - all soil should be certified or assessed

for use on that site prior to importing.

Waste Soil Classification

Does it contain Asbestos?

Soil

Case Study 1 - Asbestos in Kids Playground

Recent News Article: 25 Nov 2016.

• Council dumps soil containing ACM at popular kids

playground.

• Kids played in soil before council realised their

error.

• Probably minimal Health Risk - Horrible PR.

Soil

Case Study 2 - Local Council

Council unwittingly dumped asbestos-containing waste into

waste piles in an effort to prevent other illegal rubbish

being disposed in the same locations.

Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation

Check your existing registers, have

your ceiling cavities been inspected in

ALL your buildings?

● Extremely Dangerous

● Friable

● Easily Airborne

Who is on your Suppliers Panel?

Leafy Green Shire Council

Establishment of a register of

Prequalified Suppliers for Trades

and Services.

Leafy Green Shire Council is seeking tenders to establish a register of

prequalified suppliers for Trades and Services.

● Asbestos Removalist● Plumbers● Electricians● Locksmiths● Glazier● Painter ● Pest Control● Roofer

● Rigger Operator● Rope Access Technician ● Septic Tank Maintenance● Gardener● Graffiti Removalist● Gutter Cleaner● Removalist● Every other Tom, Dick or Harry

that breaths oxygen…..

Closing Date: As soon as an Asbestos Assessor tries to join the panel…….so hurry

Do you have a trade

category for asbestos

assessors?

Who is on your Suppliers Panel?

Illegal Dumping

Who is on your Suppliers Panel?

Storms

Do you have an asbestos assessor on Speed Dial?

Lead Based Paint

Lead Based Paint

Lead Based Paint

Typical Side-effects include:

● Impaired Attention/Concentration

● Communication Problems

● Hearing Loss

● Learning Disabilities

● Lack of Motor Skills

● Memory Problems

● Lower IQ

Exposure to lead in the womb and lead poisoning in children can have serious

mental side effects

Lead Based Paint

Children

Have your child care centers been tested for lead based paints?

Lead Dust in Ceilings

● Car exhaust

● Industrial Pollution

● Contaminated Soil

● Lead Paint breaking down

Where does it come from?

Lead Dust in Ceilings

Lead Dust in situ may not be causing problems but if you are planning on undertaking activities which may disturb the dust you should consider having it tested and receiving proper technical advice.

Typical ways that lead dust is disturbed

● Demolition● Renovations● New Penetrations to the Ceiling● Excessive work in ceiling space by trades people

If you have reason to suspect that lead is

coming from your ceiling you should also

get it checked.

PCBs

● Initially Manufactured late 1920s

● Used to make coolants and lubricants

● Sometimes found in older

○ capacitors

○ transformers

○ ceiling fans

○ air conditioners; and

○ dishwashers / dryers

Polychlorinated

Biphenyls

Thankyou

Drop me an email: daniel.owen@clearsafe.com.au

Call me: 0447 494 816

• Unexpected Finds Protocol

• Summary of Regulations

• Asbestos Registers Best Practice

• Asbestos – Best Practise Guide

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