Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities (HACA)

research | communication | prevention | coordination Year in review 2014-2015

Disclaimer

This publication may contain information about the regulation and enforcement of work health and safety in NSW. It may include some of your obligations under some of the legislation that SafeWork NSW administers. To ensure you comply with your legal obligations you must refer to the appropriate legislation.

Information on the latest laws can be checked by visiting the NSW legislation website legislation.nsw.gov.au

This publication does not represent a comprehensive statement of the law as it applies to particular problems or to individuals or as a substitute for legal advice. You should seek independent legal advice if you need assistance on the application of the law to your situation.

This material may be displayed, printed and reproduced without amendment for personal, in-house or non-commercial use.

© SafeWork NSW

Front cover image

Asbestos Awareness Ambassadors with Serafina Salucci and Betty the ADRI House. Left to right: Don Burke, John Jarratt, Serafina Salucci, Scott McGregor, Barry DuBois.

Contents

Message from the Executive Director – Peter Dunphy 2

Collaboration 3

State-wide Asbestos Plan 3

Model Asbestos Policy for NSW Councils 4

Asbestos awareness campaign 5

Loose-fill asbestos insulation 7

Naturally occurring asbestos 9

Woodsreef Mine Rehabilitation Project 9

NSW Asbestos Emergency Sub-plan 11

National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness 11

Imported materials with Asbestos Working Group 11

Management of asbestos in waste facilities 12

Schedule of actions from 1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015 13

2 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Message from the Executive Director – Peter DunphyThe work of the Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities, more familiarly known as the HACA, is literally life-saving.

Asbestos-related diseases are responsible for the overwhelming majority of work-related deaths in Australia, even though mining, manufacture and installation of asbestos products has long ceased in New South Wales.

Sadly, in 2014 the Australian Mesothelioma Register reported 641 new cases of mesothelioma and 607 deaths. This does not include the many additional deaths from other asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer.

The HACA works to prevent future asbestos-related disease though coordinated management, monitoring and response to asbestos issues in NSW and proactive illness prevention programs.

Our year in review report 2014/15 outlines the significant progress the HACA has made in raising asbestos awareness in the NSW community through key prevention programs and initiatives.

Many of the initiatives in 2014/15, including the loose-fill asbestos insulation program and naturally occurring asbestos mapping, demonstrate the value of cross-government collaboration and maintaining strong networks across the HACA State agencies and local government.

I thank members for their commitment to the NSW state-wide Asbestos Plan and the work of HACA. I look forward to seeing future achievements of the HACA in the important heath and safety management of asbestos.

Peter Dunphy Executive Director, SafeWork NSW

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 3

CollaborationHACA aims to ensure that government agencies and local councils coordinate the safe management of asbestos through improved coordination and key prevention programs.

HACA is chaired by the Executive Director, SafeWork NSW, with senior representatives from:

• Department of Industry

• Department of Planning and Environment

• Dust Diseases Authority

• Environment Protection Authority

• Local Government NSW

• Ministry of Health

• Office of Emergency Management

• Office of Local Government.

HACA demonstrates how cross-agency coordination and partnerships can benefit the NSW community with key initiatives including:

• ‘Betty the ADRI House’

• loose-fill asbestos insulation

• National Asbestos Awareness Campaign

• naturally occurring asbestos

• NSW Asbestos Emergency Sub-plan

• Woodsreef Mine Rehabilitation Project.

State-wide Asbestos PlanThe State-wide Asbestos Plan continues to secure the safe management of asbestos to reduce the incidence of asbestos-related diseases in NSW, by targeting four priority areas:

• research

• risk communication

• prevention

• coordination.

The implementation plan highlights 62 initiatives across the four priority areas.

A schedule of key actions that were completed up to June 2015 is also contained in this report.

4 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Model Asbestos Policy for NSW CouncilsThe Model Asbestos Policy for NSW Councils was released as a guideline under section 23A of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) on 14 May 2013.

Councils must consider the policy when developing, adopting and implementing asbestos policies for their local government areas.

The Model Asbestos Policy is due for a three-year review in November 2015.

A series of asbestos management training workshops have been held across the state since the Model Asbestos Policy began. Councils were given expert advice on various aspects of asbestos management, with 433 council staff from 130 councils (86 per cent of NSW councils) attending a workshop.

The workshops used peer-to-peer learning, showcasing the councils’ asbestos management initiatives, and featuring presentations by councils, including:

• Armidale Dumaresq Council

• Blacktown City Council

• Cooma-Monaro Shire Council

• Holroyd City Council

• Lane Cove Municipal Council

• Orange City Council

• Penrith City Council

• Wollongong City Council.

The workshops were held between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 at:

• Berrigan – 4 September 2014

• Bungendore – 24 July 2014

• Dubbo – 17 July 2014.

In September 2014, an asbestos speed talks and discussion event was held at Parramatta, with 40 council staff attending.

The forum offered new updates and networking opportunities across all levels of government and the private sector.

Practical demonstrations gave council officers the chance to view asbestos fibres under microscopes and encased samples of asbestos.

Council staff members have embraced these opportunities and as a result have:

• obtained expert advice on asbestos issues

• understood relevant legislation and its practical application

• clarified the role of local and state government in managing asbestos

• identified areas for improvement in managing and coordinating responses to asbestos issues.

HACA has continued to fund the role of Project Manager – Asbestos Policy at Local Government NSW to assist councils to adopt and implement local asbestos policies, based on the Model Asbestos Policy.

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 5

Local Government NSW has been highly proactive in awareness-raising, including:

• continued encouragement to councils to use the resources available via the asbestos awareness website including ‘Betty the ADRI House’

• arranged for ‘Betty the ADRI House’ to appear at the Waste Management Conference in May 2015 with sponsorship from Local Government NSW and the waste conference

• developed two new case studies which have been added to the suite of case studies of asbestos management on the Local Government NSW website:

Asbestos Collection and Education Program – Holroyd City Council (published December 2014)

Being ‘asbestos aware’ for naturally occurring asbestos – Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (published April 2015).

Asbestos awareness campaignThe National Asbestos Awareness Campaign is an initiative of the Asbestos Education Committee working in partnership with the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute to educate all Australian’s about the dangers of asbestos and how to manage it safely during home renovations or maintenance.

Asbestos-awareness activities have been ongoing throughout 2014/15 with extensive promotion throughout National Asbestos Awareness Month in November 2014, with the theme ‘Get to kNOw asbestos’, as highlighted by the poster (below).

Highlights from the campaign included:

• media coverage – 1,606 media clips nationally

• strong traffic to asbestosawareness.com.au

• 26 media events in NSW and Victoria

• 379 campaign registrations

• a record number of councils were engaged raising council participation to 343 (61 per cent of councils nationally)

• ‘Betty the ADRI House’ first interstate tour from Sydney to Melbourne

• blue lamington drives

• Betty Awards for asbestos awareness.

6 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Events featuring ‘Betty the ADRI House’

• National Asbestos Awareness Campaign launch – Friday 31st October 2014.

• Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia events

1 November 2014 – Race Day

28 November 2014 – Asbestos Memorial Day.

• Betty’s debut in Melbourne, Federation Square on 15 November 2014.

• Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Inaugural International Conference – 17 and 18 November 2014 in Melbourne.

• Multiple ‘Betty the ADRI House’ media calls in association with NSW and Victorian councils, and Bunnings Warehouse stores throughout November 2014.

Stakeholder engagement

• asbestos support groups

• corporate and business participation

• trades and trades associations

• local government organisations, councillors and council staff

• state government representatives

• state and federal government members.

Campaign awards

• National recognition of asbestos awareness – National Library of Australia – requested to archive websites:

asbestosawareness.com.au

bluelamington.com.au.

• International interest in the asbestos awareness campaign and ‘Betty the ADRI House’ from France, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

• 2012 Asbestos Awareness Week campaign was presented at the World Public Relations Forum in Madrid as a case study for best practice and excellence

• Industry Awards in 2014 – national, state and international

2014 International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) Awards for ‘Best Use of Communication Management: Not-for-Profit (Bronze)’

2014 CommPrix Awards – International Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management – Award of Distinction

2014 Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) – NSW Awards for Excellence: Highly Commended

2014 Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) – National Golden Target Awards: Highly Commended

Further information about the asbestos awareness campaign can be found at asbestosawareness.com.au.

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 7

Loose-fill asbestos insulationThere has been ongoing concerns about loose-fill asbestos ceiling insulation installed in more than a thousand homes in the ACT during the 1960’s and 1970’s as well as an unknown number of homes in NSW. The majority of loose-fill asbestos ceiling insulation in Australia was installed by a contractor known as ‘Mr Fluffy’.

Independent investigationIn August 2014 the HACA engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent investigation into loose-fill asbestos in NSW with the final report received in April 2015 after thorough research and investigation.

Sampling programIn August 2014, the NSW Government announced free ceiling insulation testing for residences in the 26 local government areas that, from archival government records, were likely to be affected.

In December 2014, the NSW Government announced increased support and assistance for affected residents through the ‘Make Safe Assistance Package’.

This package included free technical assessments, building works to seal exposure pathways and provided environmental cleaning, reimbursement for soft furnishings, financial assistance for short term accommodation, and counselling services.

The HACA developed the Sampling Protocol for licensed asbestos assessors to undertake the testing program and the Technical Assessment Protocol to determine the level of asbestos in the air and contamination in premises known to contain loose-fill asbestos insulation.

HACA members visited the councils in the 26 local government areas affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation to advise them of the risks and explain the sampling program. The HACA also undertook consultation with affected residents including individual meetings and public forums.

Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation TaskforceIn December 2014, the government also established the Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation Taskforce to consider the cost and benefits of a NSW Government purchase and demolition program.

The taskforce was also asked to make recommendations on the most effective and enduring solution to manage the potential on-going risks posed by the presence of loose-fill asbestos insulation in residential premises in NSW.

The taskforce considered the independent investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a cost benefit analysis, health surveillance information, public and council submissions, industry consultations and a report from the state parliament Joint Select Committee on Loose-fill Asbestos Insulation.

The taskforce determined that demolition, comprehensive site remediation and disposal were the most effective methods of removing the potential health risks from affected properties.

The taskforce also made a number of recommendations about the identification of affected homes for homebuyers, tenants, tradespeople and emergency service workers.

The final report represents six months of intensive work and collaboration of multiple agencies including:

• Department of Planning and Environment

• Department of Premier and Cabinet

• Environment Protection Authority

• Fair Trading NSW

• Local Government NSW

• Ministry of Health

• Office of Local Government

• SafeWork NSW

• Treasury NSW.

8 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

On 29 June 2015, the government announced that it had accepted all 13 recommendations made in the final report from the taskforce, including the establishment of a new Implementation Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading to oversee a Voluntary Purchase Demolition Program.

Voluntary Purchase Demolition ProgramThe Voluntary Purchase Demolition Program will safely remove any long term risk posed by loose-fill asbestos insulation in residential premises and will provide affected homeowners with assistance and support.

Affected homeowners in NSW will have two options to available to them, to provide flexibility to accommodate their individual circumstances. In all cases, the premises must be demolished and the land remediated.

The first option for homeowners is to sell both their home and land to the government. The second option for homeowners is to allow the government to demolish their premises, whilst retaining ownership of the remediated land.

Further information on the program can be found at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Loose-fill asbestos insulation inside ceiling space

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 9

Naturally occurring asbestosAsbestos occurs in some rocks and soils as a natural mineral. Less than one per cent of the land surface of NSW has the potential for naturally-occurring asbestos within 10 metres of the land surface.

Mapping of potential locations of naturally occurring asbestos has been done by the Geological Survey of NSW, part of the Division of Resources and Energy in the Department of Industry, on behalf of the HACA to help local councils and land managers manage the risks associated with naturally occurring asbestos.

The mapping shows both known and potential areas of naturally-occurring asbestos, but does not identify all places.

In addition to the mapping, we have developed:

• a mapping report on potential locations of naturally-occurring asbestos to accompany the mapping

• farming in areas of naturally-occurring asbestos fact sheet

• recreation in areas of naturally-occurring asbestos fact sheet

• residing in areas of naturally-occurring asbestos fact sheet

• frequently asked questions on naturally occurring asbestos.

The materials help identify simple precautions that can be taken to minimise exposure to naturally occurring asbestos.

A number of forums to promote the mapping have been hosted by Local Government NSW with guest presenters from the Department of Industry, Department of Planning and Environment, the Environment Protection Authority, industry experts, NSW councils and SafeWork NSW.

Feedback from the forums assisted with the finalisation of guidance material and key messages.

Further information on naturally occurring asbestos can be found at safework.nsw.gov.au.

Woodsreef Mine Rehabilitation ProjectWoodsreef mine is a derelict asbestos mine in the NSW Northern Tablelands. Open cut mining for asbestos first occurred at Woodsreef from 1919–1923. The Chrysotile Corporation of Australia carried out large scale mining at Woodsreef between 1970 and 1983. Approximately 500,000 tonnes of chrysotile, or white asbestos, was produced from 100 million tonnes of mined material.

The former mine extends over an area of approximately 400 hectares. The site comprises a 75 million tonne waste rock dump, a 25 million tonne tailings dump and a number of open pits, some containing considerable quantities of water. There are also a number of derelict buildings within the site, including an eight-storey mill building.

The government provided $6.3 million to address the most significant health, safety and environmental issues at the Woodsreef mine, including:

• the containment of processed friable chrysotile asbestos

• removal of the mill building, silos, and administration buildings

• implementation of a comprehensive air quality monitoring program and health risk assessment before, during and following remediation works

• closure of Mine Road, Woodsreef.

On 28 March 2011, the NSW Department of Industry engaged NSW Public Works to project manage the demolition works.

The demolition works included an overall planning phase that was extended to allow for additional assessment/studies relating to the threatened Large-eared Pied Bat roosting in the mill building. The Large-eared Pied Bat is listed as a threatened species under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. The Commonwealth Department of the Environment approved the NSW Department of Industry to demolish infrastructure and carry out rehabilitation works at the derelict Woodsreef asbestos mine on 4 July 2014. Consultation was also undertaken by the Woodsreef Taskforce with the Woodsreef Community Advisory Group.

10 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

On 3 June 2015 all demolition works were completed eight weeks ahead of the 32 week schedule and within the allocated budget.

All demolition works were carried out in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act and Environmental Management Plan in consultation with SafeWork NSW and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority. This included regular independent audits, carried out to verify the contractor’s compliance with safety and environmental requirements.

There were no safety incidents during the 24-week construction period, and a comprehensive air monitoring program undertaken by an independent licensed asbestos assessor for the duration of site works confirmed there were no off site impacts arising from the works.

As per the plan, the derelict buildings and infrastructure were demolished and buried on site within the Environment Protection Authority’s approved engineered containment cell.

Some structural steel from within the mill building was recycled following a decontamination process which was verified by an independent licensed asbestos assessor.

The final report will help the government in the long-term management of the Woodsreef mine.

Further information about the Woodsreef Mine Rehabilitation Project can be found at resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au.

Mill House during demolition, aerial view Woodsreef after demolition, containment cell in background

Mill House during demolition, ground view

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 11

NSW Asbestos Emergency Sub-planEvents like natural disasters can cause asbestos debris to be in the community for an extended period of time. This increases the potential for exposure to airborne asbestos and delays recovery, increases costs and causes undue community distress.

The NSW Asbestos Emergency Sub-plan details specific arrangements for the coordinated funding and management of asbestos debris during, and following, a large-scale emergency.

The plan is designed to complement the current arrangements for the management of hazardous materials as detailed in the Hazmat/CBRN emergency plan.

Further information about the asbestos emergency sub-plan can be found at emergency.nsw.gov.au

National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and AwarenessThe National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness gives a framework for the states and territories to work cooperatively but independently to achieve set objectives.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, who oversees the plan, will provide insights into asbestos management and eradication across Australia’s public health, environment, planning, work health and safety, emergency services and research sectors.

The plan will not direct or duplicate the content of any state, territory or local government plans.

The NSW State-Wide Asbestos Plan encompasses all priority areas identified in the national plan. The chair of the HACA Working Group is a state representative on the national council.

The issues around asbestos safety, awareness and management are complex and multi-faceted.

Many of the issues covered by this plan, in particular identification and removal, will require all levels of government to work together to find the best approach to this task.

Further information can be found at asbestossafety.gov.au

Imported materials with Asbestos Working GroupThe Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) Imported Materials with Asbestos Working Group has been established to consider the importation of products and materials containing asbestos. They will identify issues and make recommendations on the most effective ways they can be resolved by agencies, regulators and key stakeholders.

SafeWork NSW is a representative of the working group and provides regular updates to HACA on projects.

The HWSA imported materials with asbestos working group have developed a rapid response protocol to assist regulators, Australian Customs and Border Protection and other agencies, including online suppliers, in handling future imported asbestos incidents.

The rapid response protocol is available at asbestossafety.gov.au.

12 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Management of asbestos in waste facilitiesThe NSW State-wide Asbestos Plan sets out a range of activities around asbestos management in waste facilities that need regulatory action.

Commencing June 2015, SafeWork NSW and the Environment Protection Authority will be carrying out a series of state-wide visits to asbestos waste facilities to ensure asbestos management systems meet legislative requirements. They also provide information and education to workers at the facilities on appropriate handling and storage of asbestos.

The team has visited a number of facilities, checking:

• check asbestos registers

• asbestos management plans

• decontamination procedures

• health monitoring of workers

• incident and emergency procedures

• asbestos awareness training

• personal protective equipment.

The findings from the site visits will be used to assess if asbestos in waste facilities is an emerging issue that requires more attention from SafeWork NSW.

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 13

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s ha

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nter

ed th

e tr

ial a

nd e

arly

re

sults

hav

e in

dica

ted

that

the

med

icat

ion

is ra

ther

wel

l tol

erat

ed a

nd

qual

ity o

f life

mea

sure

men

ts s

ugge

st th

at a

maj

ority

of t

he p

atie

nts

do

expe

rienc

e so

me

impr

ovem

ent.

Mor

e in

form

atio

n ca

n be

foun

d at

asb

esto

sres

earc

h.or

g.au

✓✓

✓

6.

Rev

iew

lite

ratu

re, i

ncid

ents

and

issu

es to

est

ablis

h a

wat

ch li

st

of e

mer

ging

asb

esto

s ha

zard

issu

es to

mon

itor,

man

age

and

prom

ote

info

rmat

ion

and

lear

ning

s.

HA

CA

Sch

edul

ed fo

r 201

5–2

016

✓✓

7.

Rev

iew

rese

arch

prio

ritie

s in

to a

sbes

tos-

rela

ted

issu

es.

HA

CA

Sch

edul

ed fo

r 201

5–2

016

✓✓

8.

Faci

litat

e N

SW

gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies’

par

ticip

atio

n in

pa

rtne

rshi

p gr

ants

to fu

nd p

riorit

y re

sear

ch a

reas

. Enc

oura

ge

part

ners

hips

and

col

labo

ratio

n th

roug

h in

terd

isci

plin

ary

rese

arch

and

cen

tres

of r

esea

rch

exce

llenc

e in

asb

esto

s.

DD

A

SW

NS

W

Gra

nts

Sch

eme

Envi

ronm

enta

l Ed

ucat

ion

Trus

t

Sch

edul

ed fo

r 201

5–2

016

✓✓

9.

Dev

elop

an

educ

atio

n ca

mpa

ign

with

a fo

cus

on ‘h

ome

reno

vato

rs’ b

y:

• al

ertin

g th

ose

peop

le to

the

dang

ers

of a

sbes

tos

• al

ertin

g th

ose

peop

le a

s to

wha

t pro

duct

s m

ay c

onta

in

asbe

stos

and

whe

re th

ose

prod

ucts

may

be

foun

d in

ex

istin

g ho

useh

olds

or o

ther

env

ironm

ents

• ad

visi

ng th

ose

peop

le a

s to

the

step

s th

at o

ught

to b

e ta

ken

by p

eopl

e pl

anni

ng h

ome

reno

vatio

ns o

r who

ot

herw

ise

iden

tify

asbe

stos

pro

duct

s in

thei

r hom

e or

ot

her e

nviro

nmen

t.

AE

CH

ighl

ight

s fr

om th

e A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

Cam

paig

n 20

14 in

clud

e:

• 1,

606

med

ia c

lips

natio

nally

• M

ajor

incr

ease

in tr

affic

to a

sbes

tosa

war

enes

s.co

m.a

u

• 26

med

ia e

vent

s

• st

rong

sta

keho

lder

eng

agem

ent

• 34

3 co

unci

ls p

artic

ipat

ed n

atio

nally

• a

reco

rd n

umbe

r of o

rgan

isat

ions

par

ticip

ated

in th

e ca

mpa

ign

incl

udin

g tr

ades

, cor

pora

tes

and

rele

vant

ass

ocia

tions

• ‘B

etty

the

AD

RI H

ouse

’ firs

t int

erst

ate

tour

to M

elbo

urne

• in

tern

atio

nal i

nter

est i

n th

e ca

mpa

ign

and

Bet

ty th

e A

DR

I Hou

se

• B

lue

Lam

ingt

on D

rives

• B

etty

Aw

ards

for a

sbes

tos

awar

enes

s ca

mpa

ign

part

icip

atio

n

• st

ate,

nat

iona

l and

inte

rnat

iona

l ind

ustr

y aw

ard

win

ning

cam

paig

n

• na

tiona

l rec

ogni

tion

of A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

and

Blu

e La

min

gton

w

ebsi

te in

the

Nat

iona

l Lib

rary

of A

ustr

alia

.

✓✓

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 15

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

10. E

ncou

rage

med

ia o

rgan

isat

ions

to h

elp

prom

ote

asbe

stos

aw

aren

ess

thro

ugh

the

use

of a

rtic

les

and

tele

visi

on s

egm

ents

on

asb

esto

s ris

ks a

nd s

afet

y in

rele

vant

sho

ws,

mag

azin

es a

nd

othe

r med

ia.

SW

NS

WTh

e A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

Cam

paig

n 20

14 a

chie

ved:

• 1,

606

med

ia c

lips

natio

nally

incl

udin

g M

X, C

hann

el 1

0’s

Stud

io 1

0,

Sat

urda

y Te

legr

aph,

real

esta

te.c

om.a

u, d

omai

n.co

m.a

u, A

BC

New

s (N

atio

nal a

nd S

tate

)

• ‘B

etty

the

AD

RI H

ouse

’ att

ende

d 29

com

mun

ity e

vent

s an

d co

nduc

ted

26 m

edia

eve

nts.

✓✓

✓✓

11.

Rev

iew

all

curr

ent g

uida

nce

mat

eria

l to

ensu

re a

ccur

acy,

co

nsis

tenc

y an

d co

mpl

eten

ess.

DA

CC

H

AC

ATh

e H

AC

A w

eb p

age

prov

ides

a c

ompr

ehen

sive

list

of p

ublic

atio

ns a

nd

guid

ance

mat

eria

l reg

ardi

ng a

sbes

tos.

New

pub

licat

ions

incl

ude:

• Li

ving

in a

hom

e w

ith lo

ose-

fill a

sbes

tos

(flye

r and

DVD

)

• W

orki

ng in

a h

ome

that

may

con

tain

loos

e-fil

l asb

esto

s

• Lo

ose-

fill a

sbes

tos:

A g

uide

for r

eal e

stat

e ag

ency

prin

cipa

ls, t

heir

agen

ts, p

rope

rty

man

ager

s, s

trat

a m

anag

ers

and

auct

ione

ers.

✓✓

✓✓

12. W

ork

with

com

mun

ities

in re

gion

al, r

ural

and

rem

ote

regi

ons

of N

SW

, inc

ludi

ng th

e A

borig

inal

Lan

d C

ounc

ils a

nd

com

mun

ities

, to

prom

ote

the

safe

man

agem

ent o

f asb

esto

s.

HA

CA

LG

NS

WA

n as

best

os a

war

enes

s ca

mpa

ign,

des

igne

d sp

ecifi

cally

for A

borig

inal

an

d To

rres

Str

ait I

slan

d co

mm

uniti

es, w

ill b

e la

unch

ed e

arly

201

6.✓

✓

13. D

evel

op a

dat

abas

e of

asb

esto

s-co

ntai

ning

pro

duct

s to

im

prov

e kn

owle

dge

of a

sbes

tos-

cont

aini

ng m

ater

ials

and

pr

ovid

e a

refe

renc

e to

ol fo

r occ

upat

iona

l hyg

ieni

sts,

asb

esto

s as

sess

ors,

indu

stry

and

the

gene

ral c

omm

unity

.

HA

CA

S

W N

SW

Dev

elop

men

t of a

uni

que

web

site

as

a re

fere

nce

tool

for i

dent

ifyin

g va

rious

typ

es o

f asb

esto

s pr

oduc

ts a

nd re

leva

nt in

form

atio

n th

at

is e

asily

acc

essi

ble

for a

ll ty

pes

of o

nlin

e us

ers

and

targ

et g

roup

s in

clud

ing

occu

patio

nal h

ygie

nist

s’, l

icen

sed

asbe

stos

ass

esso

rs b

uild

ing

insp

ecto

rs, t

rade

s pe

ople

and

the

gene

ral p

ublic

.

The

web

site

will

be

laun

ched

Nov

embe

r 201

5.

✓✓

✓

14. U

nder

take

a c

oord

inat

ed g

over

nmen

t aw

aren

ess

rais

ing

cam

paig

n du

ring

Nat

iona

l Asb

esto

s A

war

enes

s M

onth

hel

d an

nual

ly in

Nov

embe

r.

AD

FA

AE

C

HA

CA

The

Hea

ds o

f Asb

esto

s C

oord

inat

ion

Aut

horit

ies

prov

ides

sig

nific

ant

fund

ing

and

supp

ort t

owar

ds th

e an

nual

Asb

esto

s A

war

enes

s C

ampa

ign.

Ref

er to

initi

ativ

e 9.

The

Inte

rnat

iona

l Asb

esto

s C

onfe

renc

e w

as h

eld

in M

elbo

urne

in

Nov

embe

r 201

4 du

ring

asbe

stos

aw

aren

ess

mon

th. ‘

Bet

ty th

e A

DR

I H

ouse

’ was

on

disp

lay

at th

e C

row

n H

otel

Mel

bour

ne d

urin

g th

e co

nfer

ence

, att

ract

ing

inte

rsta

te a

nd in

tern

atio

nal i

nter

est.

The

Asb

esto

s D

isea

ses

Foun

datio

n of

Aus

tral

ia h

eld

an a

nnua

l Gal

a R

ace

Day

and

Nat

iona

l Asb

esto

s A

war

enes

s D

ay d

urin

g A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

Mon

th in

Nov

embe

r 201

4.

✓✓

✓✓

16 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

15. D

evel

op a

nd is

sue

a M

odel

Asb

esto

s Po

licy

for N

SW

cou

ncils

.H

AC

A

LGN

SW

N

SW

Cou

ncils

O

LG

The

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y fo

r NS

W C

ounc

ils w

as la

unch

ed o

n 26

Nov

embe

r 201

2. A

gui

de to

the

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y w

as a

lso

mad

e av

aila

ble.

The

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y fo

r NS

W C

ounc

ils’ w

as re

leas

ed a

s a

guid

elin

e un

der s

ectio

n 23

A o

f the

Loc

al G

over

nmen

t Act

199

3 on

14

May

201

3. T

his

mea

ns th

at c

ounc

ils m

ust c

onsi

der t

he p

olic

y w

hen

deve

lopi

ng, a

dopt

ing

and

impl

emen

ting

asbe

stos

pol

icie

s fo

r the

ir lo

cal

gove

rnm

ent a

reas

.

The

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

polic

y is

due

for a

thre

e ye

ar re

view

in N

ovem

ber

2015

.

✓

16. A

ssis

t cou

ncils

to a

dopt

and

impl

emen

t the

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y.H

AC

A

LGN

SW

From

Apr

il 20

13 to

Sep

tem

ber 2

014,

a to

tal o

f 14

Asb

esto

s M

anag

emen

t Tra

inin

g W

orks

hops

wer

e he

ld a

cros

s N

SW

and

433

co

unci

l sta

ff fr

om 1

30 c

ounc

ils (8

6 pe

r cen

t of N

SW

cou

ncils

) att

ende

d.

Cou

ncils

wer

e pr

ovid

ed w

ith e

xper

t adv

ice

on v

ario

us a

spec

ts o

f as

best

os m

anag

emen

t fro

m re

pres

enta

tives

from

HA

CA

age

ncie

s an

d ot

her o

rgan

isat

ions

.

The

wor

ksho

ps fa

cilit

ated

pee

r-to-

peer

lear

ning

and

sho

wca

sed

coun

cils

’ asb

esto

s m

anag

emen

t ini

tiativ

es, f

eatu

ring

pres

enta

tions

by

cou

ncils

incl

udin

g: A

rmid

ale

Dum

ares

q C

ounc

il, B

lack

tow

n C

ity

Cou

ncil,

Coo

ma-

Mon

aro

Shi

re C

ounc

il, H

olro

yd C

ity C

ounc

il, L

ane

Cov

e M

unic

ipal

Cou

ncil,

Ora

nge

City

Cou

ncil,

Pen

rith

City

Cou

ncil

and

Wol

long

ong

City

Cou

ncil.

The

wor

ksho

ps h

eld

betw

een

1 Ju

ly 2

014

and

30 J

une

2015

wer

e at

:

• B

errig

an –

4 S

epte

mbe

r 201

4

• B

unge

ndor

e –

24 J

uly

2014

• D

ubbo

– 1

7 Ju

ly 2

014

In S

epte

mbe

r 201

4, a

n as

best

os s

peed

tal

ks a

nd d

iscu

ssio

n ev

ent w

as

held

in P

arra

mat

ta w

hich

att

ract

ed 4

0 co

unci

l sta

ff.

The

foru

m o

ffer

ed n

ew u

pdat

es a

nd n

etw

orki

ng o

ppor

tuni

ties

acro

ss a

ll le

vels

of g

over

nmen

t and

the

priv

ate

sect

or.

Pra

ctic

al d

emon

stra

tions

gav

e co

unci

l offi

cers

the

chan

ce to

vie

w

asbe

stos

fibr

es u

nder

mic

rosc

opes

and

enc

ased

sam

ples

of a

sbes

tos.

✓✓

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 17

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

Cou

ncil

staf

f mem

bers

hav

e re

adily

em

brac

ed th

ese

oppo

rtun

ities

and

as

a re

sult

have

:

• ob

tain

ed e

xper

t adv

ice

on a

sbes

tos

issu

es

• un

ders

tood

rele

vant

legi

slat

ion

and

its p

ract

ical

app

licat

ion

• cl

arifi

ed th

e ro

le o

f loc

al a

nd s

tate

gov

ernm

ent i

n m

anag

ing

asbe

stos

• id

entifi

ed a

reas

for i

mpr

ovem

ent i

n m

anag

ing

asbe

stos

and

co

ordi

natin

g re

spon

ses

to a

sbes

tos

issu

es.

HA

CA

has

con

tinue

d to

fund

the

role

of P

roje

ct M

anag

er –

Asb

esto

s Po

licy

at L

GN

SW

to a

ssis

t cou

ncils

to a

dopt

and

impl

emen

t loc

al

asbe

stos

pol

icie

s ba

sed

on th

e M

odel

Asb

esto

s Po

licy.

From

Feb

ruar

y to

Jun

e 20

15, t

he P

roje

ct M

anag

er c

onta

cted

40

NS

W

coun

cils

that

had

not

yet

ado

pted

an

Asb

esto

s Po

licy

base

d on

the

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y to

off

er fu

rthe

r ass

ista

nce.

17.

Dev

elop

spe

cific

edu

cativ

e to

ols

for t

rain

ing

and

wor

ksho

ps

for l

ocal

cou

ncils

.EP

A

LGN

SW

S

W N

SW

LGN

SW

has

con

tinue

d to

enc

oura

ge c

ounc

ils to

acc

ess

the

educ

ativ

e re

sour

ces

avai

labl

e vi

a th

e A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

web

site

incl

udin

g ‘B

etty

the

AD

RI H

ouse

’.

LGN

SW

arr

ange

d fo

r ‘B

etty

the

AD

RI H

ouse

’ to

appe

ar a

t the

Was

te

Con

fere

nce

in M

ay 2

015

with

spo

nsor

ship

for B

etty

’s a

ppea

ranc

e fr

om

LGN

SW

and

the

Was

te C

onfe

renc

e.

LGN

SW

add

ed t

wo

new

cas

e st

udie

s to

the

suite

of c

ase

stud

ies

of

asbe

stos

man

agem

ent w

hich

are

ava

ilabl

e on

the

LGN

SW

web

site

:

• A

sbes

tos

Col

lect

ion

and

Educ

atio

n P

rogr

am –

Hol

royd

City

Cou

ncil

(pub

lishe

d D

ecem

ber 2

014)

• B

eing

‘asb

esto

s aw

are’

for n

atur

ally

occ

urrin

g as

best

os –

Po

rt M

acqu

arie

-Has

tings

Cou

ncil

(pub

lishe

d A

pril

2015

)

✓✓

✓✓

18. D

evel

op a

fact

she

et fo

r per

sons

und

erta

king

an

exem

pt

deve

lopm

ent t

hat h

as id

entifi

ed a

sbes

tos

is p

rese

nt.

DP

&E

Exi

stin

g fa

ct s

heet

s an

d pl

anni

ng c

ircul

ars

avai

labl

e on

the

DP

&E

w

ebsi

te th

at p

rovi

de in

form

atio

n re

gard

ing

exem

pt a

nd c

ompl

ying

de

velo

pmen

t and

asb

esto

s w

ere

revi

ewed

for c

urre

ncy

and

com

plet

enes

s.

Furt

her r

evie

w w

ill b

e un

dert

aken

in 2

015

–201

6 to

con

solid

ate

info

rmat

ion

and

impr

ove

linka

ges

with

oth

er re

cent

ly p

ublis

hed

guid

elin

es.

✓✓

✓

19. P

rom

ote

the

loca

l cou

ncil

asbe

stos

fact

she

et fo

r inc

lusi

on o

n lo

cal c

ounc

il w

ebsi

tes.

HA

CA

A lo

cal c

ounc

il fa

ct s

heet

has

bee

n de

velo

ped

and

prom

oted

to N

SW

co

unci

ls to

pro

vide

con

sist

ent a

dvic

e on

all

coun

cil w

ebsi

tes.

✓

18 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

20. C

oord

inat

e an

d di

ssem

inat

e in

form

atio

n to

loca

l gov

ernm

ent

thro

ugh

cont

act w

ith in

divi

dual

cou

ncils

and

LG

NS

W to

ass

ist

loca

l gov

ernm

ent t

o en

sure

con

sist

ent i

nfor

mat

ion

and

advi

ce

is a

vaila

ble

to th

e pu

blic

.

LGN

SW

LGN

SW

has

con

tinue

d to

regu

larly

dis

sem

inat

e as

best

os in

form

atio

n to

co

unci

ls. L

GN

SW

has

:

• A

rran

ged

for 2

6 co

unci

ls to

rece

ive

brie

fings

abo

ut lo

ose

fill

asbe

stos

insu

latio

n (J

uly

– S

epte

mbe

r 201

4). T

he b

riefin

gs w

ere

join

tly d

eliv

ered

by

LGN

SW

and

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

on

beha

lf of

HA

CA

.

• P

rovi

ded

ongo

ing

upda

tes

to c

ounc

ils o

n th

e is

sue

of lo

ose

fill

asbe

stos

insu

latio

n.

• Fr

om A

pril

2015

to J

une

2015

, LG

NS

W o

n be

half

of H

AC

A

conv

ened

thre

e re

gion

al fo

rum

s on

nat

ural

ly o

ccur

ring

asbe

stos

(N

OA

) for

cou

ncils

to e

xpla

in th

e m

appi

ng o

f NS

W a

reas

with

th

e po

tent

ial f

or N

OA

, dis

cuss

impl

icat

ions

for l

and

use

plan

ning

an

d pr

ovid

e ca

se s

tudi

es a

nd in

form

atio

n on

lega

l obl

igat

ions

for

coun

cils

.

The

thre

e fo

rum

s w

ere

atte

nded

by

52 c

ounc

il st

aff a

nd th

e se

ries

of fo

rum

s ha

s co

ntin

ued

beyo

nd J

une

2015

.

• D

eliv

ered

regu

lar a

sbes

tos

man

agem

ent p

rese

ntat

ions

to N

SW

C

ounc

ilSaf

e A

dvis

ory

Net

wor

k m

eetin

gs, n

amel

y up

date

s on

loos

e fil

l asb

esto

s in

sula

tion.

• In

clud

ed a

pre

sent

atio

n by

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

on

Asb

esto

s M

anag

emen

t Pla

ns a

t the

201

5 w

ork

heal

th a

nd s

afet

y br

iefin

gs

for g

ener

al m

anag

ers

and

seni

or m

anag

ers

whi

ch w

ere

held

at 1

1 lo

catio

ns a

cros

s N

SW

by

LGN

SW

toge

ther

with

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

, St

ateC

over

and

Cou

ncilS

afe

in F

ebru

ary

and

Mar

ch 2

015.

• P

rese

nted

at t

he E

nviro

nmen

tal H

ealth

Aus

tral

ia c

onfe

renc

e on

31

Oct

ober

201

4.

• P

rovi

ded

coun

cils

with

em

ail u

pdat

es, i

tem

s in

the

LGN

SW

loca

l go

vern

men

t wee

kly

e-ne

wsl

ette

r and

asb

esto

s in

form

atio

n on

the

LGN

SW

web

site

.

✓✓

✓

21. P

rovi

de a

war

enes

s in

itiat

ives

for r

elev

ant g

over

nmen

t ag

enci

es, l

ocal

gov

ernm

ent p

lann

ers,

cou

ncil

and

priv

ate

cert

ifier

s, e

nviro

nmen

tal h

ealth

and

bui

ldin

g pe

rson

nel

and

envi

ronm

enta

l reg

ulat

ors/

educ

ator

s on

role

s an

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s in

rela

tion

to a

sbes

tos

issu

es.

SW

NS

W

DP

&E

To b

e un

dert

aken

in 2

015

–201

6.✓

✓

22. R

evie

w th

e ro

le o

f priv

ate

and

coun

cil c

ertifi

ers

in re

latio

n to

th

e ce

rtifi

catio

n of

bui

ldin

g w

orks

whe

re a

sbes

tos

is p

rese

nt

thro

ugh

cons

ulta

tion

with

the

Bui

ldin

g P

rofe

ssio

nals

Boa

rd.

SW

NS

W

DP

&E

To b

e un

dert

aken

in 2

015

–201

6.✓

✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 19

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

23. D

evel

op p

ract

ical

gui

delin

es/p

roto

cols

for t

he c

ontr

ol o

f th

e ris

ks o

f nat

ural

ly o

ccur

ring

asbe

stos

dur

ing

exca

vatio

n,

build

ing,

min

ing

and

road

wor

ks.

EPA

D

I S

W N

SW

Gui

danc

e m

ater

ial i

nclu

ding

a n

umbe

r of f

act s

heet

s an

d fr

eque

ntly

as

ked

ques

tions

has

bee

n de

velo

ped

to p

rovi

de g

reat

er in

form

atio

n to

co

unci

ls a

nd la

nd m

anag

ers

rega

rdin

g na

tura

lly o

ccur

ring

asbe

stos

.

The

guid

ance

mat

eria

l will

incl

ude

info

rmat

ion

for r

educ

ing

poss

ible

ex

posu

re if

resi

ding

or u

nder

taki

ng fa

rmin

g or

recr

eatio

nal a

ctiv

ities

in a

na

tura

lly o

ccur

ring

asbe

stos

are

a.

The

guid

ance

mat

eria

l was

pub

lishe

d in

Aug

ust 2

015.

✓✓

24. D

evel

op a

pra

ctic

al g

uide

for s

afe

man

agem

ent o

f soi

l co

ntam

inat

ed w

ith a

sbes

tos-

cont

aini

ng m

ater

ials

.EP

A

SW

NS

WG

uida

nce

mat

eria

l was

pub

lishe

d on

the

HA

CA

web

site

in A

pril

2014

:

• M

anag

ing

asbe

stos

in o

r on

soil:

gui

de

• H

ow to

dea

l with

asb

esto

s fib

ro in

soi

l at h

ome:

fact

she

et.

✓✓

25. P

rovi

de im

prov

ed m

appi

ng o

f nat

ural

ly o

ccur

ring

asbe

stos

and

co

ntam

inat

ed la

nd s

ites

in N

SW

to a

ssis

t cou

ncils

with

land

us

e pl

anni

ng.

DI

EPA

S

W N

SW

Impr

oved

map

ping

of n

atur

ally

occ

urrin

g as

best

os h

as b

een

unde

rtak

en

by th

e D

epar

tmen

t of I

ndus

try.

A c

omm

unic

atio

n st

rate

gy h

as b

een

deve

lope

d fo

r the

dis

sem

inat

ion

of m

aps

to lo

cal c

ounc

ils a

nd k

ey s

take

hold

ers

to a

ssis

t with

civ

il co

nstr

uctio

n pr

ojec

ts a

nd fo

r lan

d us

e sa

fety

stu

dies

.

The

NO

A m

appi

ng a

nd s

uppo

rtin

g gu

idan

ce m

ater

ial w

as re

leas

ed in

A

ugus

t 201

5.

✓✓

✓

26. M

anag

e th

e st

abili

satio

n an

d ris

k m

itiga

tion

wor

ks fo

r the

W

oods

Ree

f Min

e si

te.

DI

Woo

dsre

ef

Task

forc

e

Air

Mo

nit

ori

ng

& H

ealt

h R

isk

asse

ssm

ent p

roje

ct

NS

W T

rade

& In

vest

men

t has

eng

aged

SLR

Con

sulti

ng A

ustr

alia

Pty

Lt

d to

impl

emen

t the

Air

Mon

itorin

g an

d H

ealth

Ris

k A

sses

smen

t P

roje

ct. T

he h

ealth

risk

ass

essm

ent w

ill a

ssis

t the

NS

W G

over

nmen

t in

the

long

-term

man

agem

ent o

f the

Woo

dsre

ef M

ine.

The

Woo

dsre

ef

Task

forc

e ha

s is

sued

a fa

ctsh

eet c

onta

inin

g th

e ta

sks

of th

e A

ir M

onito

ring

and

Hea

lth R

isk

Ass

essm

ent.

Dem

olit

ion

wo

rks

NS

W D

epar

tmen

t of I

ndus

try

enga

ged

NS

W P

ublic

Wor

ks to

pro

ject

m

anag

e th

e de

mol

ition

wor

ks. A

num

ber o

f spe

cial

ist c

onsu

ltant

s w

ere

enga

ged

to a

ssis

t in

plan

ning

the

dem

oliti

on w

orks

and

env

ironm

enta

l as

sess

men

ts.

The

over

all p

lann

ing

phas

e of

the

dem

oliti

on p

roje

ct w

as e

xten

ded

to a

llow

for a

dditi

onal

ass

essm

ent/

stud

ies

rela

ting

to th

e th

reat

ened

La

rge-

eare

d P

ied

Bat

roos

ting

in th

e m

ill b

uild

ing.

The

Lar

ge-e

ared

P

ied

Bat

is li

sted

as

a th

reat

ened

spe

cies

und

er th

e N

SW

Thr

eate

ned

Spe

cies

Con

serv

atio

n A

ct 1

995

and

the

Com

mon

wea

lth E

nviro

nmen

tal

Prot

ectio

n an

d B

iodi

vers

ity A

ct 1

999.

✓✓

✓

20 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

NS

W D

epar

tmen

t of I

ndus

try

com

mitt

ed to

ens

urin

g re

leva

nt

envi

ronm

enta

l app

rova

ls a

re o

btai

ned

befo

re u

nder

taki

ng th

e de

mol

ition

w

orks

. The

se a

ppro

vals

are

a le

gal r

equi

rem

ent u

nder

bot

h st

ate

and

com

mon

wea

lth la

w.

On

3 Ju

ne 2

015

all d

emol

ition

wor

ks w

ere

com

plet

ed e

ight

wee

ks

ahea

d of

the

32 w

eek

sche

dule

and

with

in th

e al

loca

ted

budg

et.

Ther

e w

ere

no s

afet

y in

cide

nts

durin

g th

e 24

wee

k co

nstr

uctio

n pe

riod,

and

a c

ompr

ehen

sive

air

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

m u

nder

take

n by

an

Inde

pend

ent L

icen

sed

Asb

esto

s A

sses

sor f

or th

e du

ratio

n of

site

wor

ks

confi

rmed

ther

e w

ere

no o

ff s

ite im

pact

s ar

isin

g fr

om th

e w

orks

.

As

per t

he p

lan,

the

dere

lict b

uild

ings

and

infr

astr

uctu

re w

ere

dem

olis

hed

and

burie

d on

site

with

in a

n EP

A a

ppro

ved

engi

neer

ed

cont

ainm

ent c

ell.

Som

e st

ruct

ural

ste

el fr

om w

ithin

the

Mill

Bui

ldin

g w

as re

cycl

ed fo

llow

ing

a de

cont

amin

atio

n pr

oces

s w

hich

was

ver

ified

by

an

Inde

pend

ent L

icen

sed

Asb

esto

s A

sses

sor.

For f

urth

er in

form

atio

n pl

ease

vis

it re

sour

cesa

nden

ergy

.nsw

.gov

.au

27. A

lert

impo

rter

s an

d su

pplie

rs to

the

risks

and

con

trol

m

easu

res

to p

reve

nt th

e ill

egal

impo

rt o

f asb

esto

s go

ods.

Aus

tral

ian

Cus

tom

s an

d B

orde

r P

rote

ctio

n H

WS

A Im

port

s S

W N

SW

The

Hea

ds o

f Wor

kpla

ce S

afet

y A

utho

ritie

s (H

WS

A) I

mpo

rted

M

ater

ials

with

Asb

esto

s W

orki

ng G

roup

was

est

ablis

hed

to c

onsi

der

the

impo

rtat

ion

of p

rodu

cts

and

mat

eria

ls c

onta

inin

g as

best

os, i

dent

ify

issu

es, e

xplo

re w

ays

of a

ddre

ssin

g th

em a

nd m

ake

reco

mm

enda

tions

on

the

mos

t eff

ectiv

e w

ays

that

they

can

be

reso

lved

by

agen

cies

, re

gula

tors

and

key

sta

keho

lder

s.

A n

umbe

r of i

mpo

rted

goo

ds c

onta

inin

g as

best

os h

ave

been

det

ecte

d in

clud

ing

wal

l pan

els

from

Chi

na.

✓✓

✓✓

28. I

dent

ify h

igh

risk

impo

rted

goo

ds th

at c

ould

con

tain

asb

esto

s in

clud

ing

the

purc

hase

of a

sbes

tos

prod

ucts

onl

ine.

Aus

tral

ian

Cus

tom

s an

d B

orde

r P

rote

ctio

n H

WS

A Im

port

s S

W N

SW

The

HW

SA

Impo

rted

Mat

eria

ls w

ith A

sbes

tos

Wor

king

Gro

up

deve

lope

d a

rapi

d re

spon

se p

roto

col t

o as

sist

regu

lato

rs, A

ustr

alia

n C

usto

ms

and

Bor

der P

rote

ctio

n an

d ot

her a

genc

ies

in h

andl

ing

futu

re

impo

rted

asb

esto

s in

cide

nts

incl

udin

g on

line

supp

liers

.

The

rapi

d re

spon

se p

roto

col i

s av

aila

ble

at a

sbes

toss

afet

y.go

v.au

✓✓

✓✓

29. P

rom

ote

impl

emen

tatio

n of

wor

kpla

ce a

sbes

tos

Wor

k H

ealth

an

d S

afet

y R

egul

atio

n 20

11 a

nd c

odes

of p

ract

ice

whi

ch

com

men

ced

from

1 J

anua

ry 2

012.

SW

NS

WN

umer

ous

pres

enta

tions

hav

e be

en u

nder

take

n to

asb

esto

s lic

ence

ho

lder

s, li

cens

ed a

sbes

tos

asse

ssor

s, s

afet

y pr

ofes

sion

als

and

asbe

stos

sup

port

gro

ups.

Ass

ista

nce

has

also

bee

n pr

ovid

ed to

the

AC

T on

the

impl

emen

tatio

n of

th

e W

ork

Hea

lth a

nd S

afet

y R

egul

atio

n 20

11 w

hich

the

AC

T ha

s ad

opte

d.

Com

mun

ity e

ngag

emen

t has

als

o oc

curr

ed a

roun

d lo

ose

fill a

sbes

tos

insu

latio

n an

d su

ppor

t pro

vide

d ar

ound

asb

esto

s aw

aren

ess

(‘B

etty

the

AD

RI H

ouse

’).

✓✓

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 21

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

30. D

evel

op a

nd m

aint

ain

a co

mpr

ehen

sive

dem

oliti

on a

nd

asbe

stos

str

ateg

y to

ens

ure

the

heal

th, s

afet

y an

d w

ellb

eing

of

wor

kers

is p

rote

cted

.

DA

CC

S

W N

SW

Th

e D

emol

ition

and

Asb

esto

s C

onsu

ltativ

e C

omm

ittee

(DA

CC

) has

be

en e

stab

lishe

d to

pro

vide

a c

onsu

ltativ

e fo

rum

that

can

eff

ectiv

ely

addr

ess

heal

th a

nd s

afet

y is

sues

in th

e as

best

os a

nd d

emol

ition

in

dust

ry in

NS

W.

The

DA

CC

mee

ts o

n a

quar

terly

bas

is a

nd re

gula

rly s

hare

s in

form

atio

n,

exch

ange

s vi

ews

and

prov

ide

cons

truc

tive

feed

back

and

gui

danc

e ab

out a

sbes

tos

and

dem

oliti

on is

sues

to p

rom

ote

cont

inuo

us

impr

ovem

ent o

f the

saf

e m

anag

emen

t of d

emol

ition

wor

k an

d as

best

os.

The

DA

CC

is C

haire

d by

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

with

repr

esen

tativ

es fr

om

• A

sbes

tos

Rem

oval

ists

Con

trac

tors

Ass

ocia

tion

• B

uild

ing

Trad

es G

roup

• C

FMEU

• C

ivil

Con

trac

tors

Fed

erat

ion

• D

emol

ition

Con

trac

tors

Ass

ocia

tion

NS

W

• La

nd a

nd H

ousi

ng C

orpo

ratio

n

• M

aste

r Bui

lder

s A

ssoc

iatio

n

• U

nion

s N

SW

.

The

DA

CC

is in

volv

ed in

the

revi

ew o

f all

asbe

stos

-rel

ated

pub

licat

ions

to

ens

ure

accu

racy

and

con

sist

ency

and

pro

vide

s in

dust

ry fe

edba

ck o

n an

y ne

w g

uida

nce

mat

eria

l bei

ng d

evel

oped

.

The

DA

CC

hav

e pl

ayed

an

inte

gral

role

in th

e re

view

of d

emol

ition

tr

aini

ng to

ens

ure

it m

eets

indu

stry

sta

ndar

ds.

✓✓

✓✓

31. T

arge

t hig

h ris

k oc

cupa

tions

suc

h as

asb

esto

s re

mov

alis

ts,

build

ing,

con

stru

ctio

n an

d el

ectr

icity

indu

stry

sup

ply

wor

kers

, w

aste

and

land

fill o

pera

tors

, car

pent

ers,

plu

mbe

rs, e

lect

ricia

ns

and

auto

mot

ive

mec

hani

cs to

impr

ove

awar

enes

s, k

now

ledg

e an

d sk

ills

in th

e sa

fe h

andl

ing

of a

sbes

tos-

cont

aini

ng m

ater

ials

.

SW

NS

WS

afeW

ork

NS

W a

nd th

e EP

A w

ill c

arry

out

a s

erie

s of

sta

te-w

ide

wor

kpla

ce v

isits

in la

ndfil

l fac

ilitie

s to

ver

ify s

afe

wor

k pr

actic

es. T

he

verifi

catio

n pr

ojec

t is

focu

sing

on

issu

es s

uch

as: t

he p

roce

ss fo

r id

entif

ying

asb

esto

s, a

sbes

tos

man

agem

ent p

lans

, asb

esto

s aw

aren

ess

trai

ning

for w

orke

rs, d

econ

tam

inat

ion

proc

edur

es fo

r pla

nt a

nd

pers

onne

l. Th

e ve

rifica

tion

proj

ect w

ill c

omm

ence

in J

uly

2015

.

Gui

danc

e m

ater

ial w

as d

evel

oped

for t

he L

oose

-fill

asbe

stos

insu

latio

n pr

ogra

m in

clud

ing:

• Li

ving

in a

hom

e w

ith lo

ose-

fill a

sbes

tos

(Fly

er a

nd D

VD

)

• W

orki

ng in

a h

ome

that

may

con

tain

loos

e-fil

l asb

esto

s

• A

gui

de fo

r rea

l est

ate

agen

cy p

rinci

pals

, the

ir ag

ents

, pro

pert

y m

anag

ers,

str

ata

man

ager

s an

d au

ctio

neer

s.

✓✓

✓✓

22 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

32. U

nder

take

an

annu

al c

ompl

ianc

e an

d en

forc

emen

t mon

itorin

g an

d ta

rget

ed a

udit

prog

ram

for l

icen

sed

asbe

stos

rem

oval

ists

an

d as

best

os a

sses

sors

with

a fo

cus

on tr

aini

ng, h

ealth

m

onito

ring,

saf

ety

man

agem

ent s

yste

ms

and

safe

dis

posa

l (c

heck

ing

of la

ndfil

l rec

eipt

s).

SW

NS

WTh

ere

is a

ded

icat

ed s

peci

alis

t Asb

esto

s &

Dem

oliti

on U

nit l

ocat

ed

with

in S

afeW

ork

NS

W.

The

spec

ialis

t uni

t is

resp

onsi

ble

for:

• pr

ovid

ing

a sp

ecia

list r

espo

nse

to c

ompl

aint

s re

late

d to

dem

oliti

on

and

asbe

stos

rem

oval

• de

liver

y of

info

rmat

ion

and

educ

atio

n to

sta

keho

lder

s an

d th

e pu

blic

• co

nduc

ting

of p

lann

ed a

nd t

arge

ted

audi

ts o

n lic

ence

hol

ders

an

d re

gist

ered

trai

ning

org

anis

atio

ns u

nder

taki

ng a

sbes

tos

and

dem

oliti

on tr

aini

ng c

ours

es

• m

onito

ring

of o

nlin

e no

tifica

tions

• st

rate

gic

inve

stig

atio

ns w

ith m

ultip

le a

genc

ies

coop

erat

ion

• re

view

and

feed

back

tow

ards

har

mon

ized

legi

slat

ion

• co

ntrib

utin

g to

aut

horiz

atio

n pr

ogra

ms

and

polic

y fo

r dem

oliti

on a

nd

asbe

stos

lice

nsin

g

• im

plem

entin

g in

itiat

ives

in th

e st

ate-

wid

e A

sbes

tos

Pla

n on

beh

alf

of S

afeW

ork

NS

W

• co

ordi

natin

g an

d m

anag

ing

asbe

stos

and

dem

oliti

on s

take

hold

er

stra

tegi

es in

clud

ing

foru

ms

such

as

the

DA

CC

.

✓✓

✓✓

33. E

nsur

e on

goin

g in

clus

ion

of in

form

atio

n on

asb

esto

s sa

fety

in

trai

ning

for a

ppre

ntic

es in

the

build

ing,

con

stru

ctio

n,

auto

mot

ive

and

elec

tric

al s

uppl

y tr

ades

.

SW

NS

WO

ngoi

ng li

aiso

n w

ith th

e In

dust

ry S

kills

Cou

ncil

for i

nclu

sion

of a

sbes

tos

safe

ty in

form

atio

n to

be

inco

rpor

ated

into

all

rele

vant

trai

ning

cou

rses

.✓

✓✓

✓

34. D

evel

op a

nd fo

ster

indu

stry

net

wor

ks s

uch

as th

e D

emol

ition

an

d A

sbes

tos

Con

sulta

tive

Com

mitt

ee to

pro

mot

e th

e sa

fe

man

agem

ent o

f asb

esto

s.

DA

CC

S

W N

SW

See

initi

ativ

e 30

The

Loos

e-fil

l Asb

esto

s Ta

skfo

rce

built

str

ong

rela

tions

hips

with

loca

l co

unci

ls a

nd re

side

nts

who

se p

rope

rtie

s ar

e af

fect

ed b

y lo

ose-

fill

asbe

stos

thro

ugh

indi

vidu

al c

onsu

ltatio

n an

d pu

blic

foru

ms.

✓✓

✓✓

35. R

equi

re N

SW

gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies

to b

e ex

empl

ars

of

asbe

stos

man

agem

ent a

nd e

nsur

e th

at a

ll go

vern

men

t bu

ildin

gs, i

nclu

ding

gov

ernm

ent o

wne

d ho

usin

g, h

ave

curr

ent

asbe

stos

man

agem

ent p

lans

and

asb

esto

s re

gist

ers.

GP

NS

W

SW

NS

WC

onsu

ltatio

n ha

s co

mm

ence

d w

ith re

leva

nt a

genc

ies

incl

udin

g G

over

nmen

t Pro

pert

ies

NS

W a

nd L

and

and

Hou

sing

Cor

pora

tion

to e

nsur

e th

at a

ll go

vern

men

t bui

ldin

gs h

ave

curr

ent a

sbes

tos

man

agem

ent p

lans

and

asb

esto

s re

gist

ers

in p

lace

.

✓✓

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 23

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

36. E

nsur

e su

ffici

ent p

roce

dure

s ar

e in

pla

ce fo

r the

app

rova

l of

asbe

stos

ass

esso

r lic

ense

s re

spon

sibl

e fo

r air

mon

itorin

g an

d cl

eara

nce

insp

ectio

ns/c

ertifi

cate

s fo

r fria

ble

asbe

stos

rem

oval

w

ork.

SW

NS

WSt

ringe

nt p

roce

sses

are

in p

lace

for t

he a

ppro

val o

f asb

esto

s as

sess

or

licen

ces.

Whe

n ap

plic

ants

app

ly fo

r an

asbe

stos

ass

esso

r lic

ence

it is

lo

dged

with

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

lice

nsin

g w

ho re

view

the

docu

men

tatio

n pr

ovid

ed in

clud

ing

confi

rmin

g w

ith th

eir t

rain

ing

orga

nisa

tion

that

the

trai

ning

reco

rds

prov

ided

are

val

id.

The

evid

ence

of e

xper

ienc

e is

revi

ewed

by

a te

chni

cal s

peci

alis

t in

clud

ing

refe

renc

e ch

ecks

. Num

erou

s ap

plic

ants

hav

e be

en c

onta

cted

in

inst

ance

s w

here

add

ition

al in

form

atio

n is

requ

ired.

Whe

n ap

plic

ants

fail

to m

eet t

he m

inim

um li

cens

ing

crite

ria a

lett

er is

se

nt w

ith in

form

atio

n in

clud

ing

the

right

s of

app

eal.

Follo

win

g a

tend

er s

ubm

issi

on a

num

ber o

f Lic

ense

d A

sbes

tos

Ass

esso

rs h

ave

been

con

trac

ted

to u

nder

take

the

sam

plin

g an

d te

stin

g of

loos

e-fil

l asb

esto

s in

26

loca

l gov

ernm

ent a

reas

in re

latio

n to

the

loos

e fil

l asb

esto

s in

sula

tion

prog

ram

.

✓✓

✓✓

37. D

evel

op g

uida

nce

mat

eria

l to

assi

st a

sbes

tos

asse

ssor

s fo

r un

dert

akin

g th

e as

sess

men

t of f

riabl

e as

best

os re

mov

al w

ork.

SW

NS

WLi

cens

ed A

sbes

tos

Ass

esso

rs a

nd O

ccup

atio

nal H

ygie

nist

s ha

ve b

een

prov

ided

with

info

rmat

ion

whe

n un

dert

akin

g ai

r mon

itorin

g, ta

king

sa

mpl

es o

r cle

aran

ce in

spec

tions

ass

ocia

ted

with

asb

esto

s re

mov

al w

ork.

✓

38. P

ublis

h a

listin

g of

lice

nsed

asb

esto

s re

mov

alis

ts, d

emol

ition

co

ntra

ctor

s an

d as

best

os a

sses

sors

on

the

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

w

ebsi

te.

SW

NS

WTh

e A

sbes

tos

and

Dem

oliti

on L

icen

se H

olde

r Sea

rch

Faci

lity

was

de

velo

ped

to a

llow

the

publ

ic e

asy

acce

ss to

find

qua

lified

asb

esto

s re

mov

alis

ts a

nd d

emol

ition

con

trac

tors

with

in th

eir l

ocal

are

a.

The

sear

ch fa

cilit

y he

lps

rais

e th

e aw

aren

ess

of u

sing

qua

lified

lice

nsed

co

ntra

ctor

s w

hen

unde

rtak

ing

asbe

stos

rem

oval

or d

emol

ition

wor

k to

en

sure

ther

e is

no

risk

of e

xpos

ure

to a

sbes

tos

fibre

s.

✓

39. I

ncre

ase

the

awar

enes

s of

the

hom

eow

ners

whe

n pu

rcha

sing

or

reno

vatin

g/ m

aint

aini

ng a

pro

pert

y th

at m

ay c

onta

in

asbe

stos

.

AE

CR

efer

to in

itiat

ive

9

The

annu

al N

atio

nal A

sbes

tos

Aw

aren

ess

Cam

paig

n pr

imar

ily fo

cuse

s on

ale

rtin

g A

ustr

alia

ns a

bout

the

dang

ers

of w

orki

ng w

ith a

sbes

tos

durin

g ho

me

reno

vatio

ns a

nd m

aint

enan

ce.

✓✓

✓✓

24 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

40. I

mpl

emen

t a p

ilot p

rogr

am o

f hom

e re

nova

tor a

sbes

tos

rem

oval

kits

sim

ilar t

o a

prog

ram

impl

emen

ted

by L

a Tr

obe

Cou

ncil,

Vic

toria

to p

rom

ote

the

safe

rem

oval

of a

sbes

tos

in

smal

l hom

e re

nova

tion

jobs

.

EPA

H

AC

ATh

e W

aste

Les

s, R

ecyc

le M

ore

initi

ativ

e la

unch

ed in

201

3 is

the

larg

est

was

te a

nd re

cycl

ing

fund

ing

prog

ram

in A

ustr

alia

.

It is

a fi

ve-y

ear $

465.

7 m

illio

n in

itiat

ive

led

by th

e En

viro

nmen

t P

rote

ctio

n A

utho

rity

(EPA

) to

help

ach

ieve

the

stat

e’s

recy

clin

g ta

rget

s,

stim

ulat

e in

vest

men

t in

infr

astr

uctu

re a

nd c

omba

t ille

gal d

umpi

ng a

nd

litte

ring.

As

part

of a

n in

tegr

ated

app

roac

h to

com

bat i

llega

l dum

ping

, the

EP

A h

as c

ompl

eted

a s

igni

fican

t pilo

t pro

gram

to m

ake

it ea

sier

for

hous

ehol

ders

to d

ispo

se o

f sm

all n

on-c

omm

erci

al a

mou

nts

of a

sbes

tos

was

te. T

he E

PA c

omm

itted

$3

mill

ion

to tr

ial t

he H

ouse

hold

ers’

A

sbes

tos

Dis

posa

l Sch

eme

in 2

3 co

unci

ls o

ver 1

2 m

onth

s du

ring

2014

and

201

5. T

he s

chem

e w

aive

d th

e w

aste

levy

, red

uced

tip

fees

an

d pr

ovid

ed a

$50

per

tonn

e su

bsid

y to

redu

ce th

e co

st o

f asb

esto

s di

spos

al fo

r hom

e re

nova

tors

.

The

pilo

t was

des

igne

d to

exp

lore

the

rela

tions

hip

betw

een

disp

osal

cos

ts a

nd ra

tes

of il

lega

l dum

ping

. Und

er th

e sc

hem

e 16

23

hous

ehol

ders

regi

ster

ed a

nd 7

46.6

3 to

nnes

of a

sbes

tos

was

te w

ere

disp

osed

.

The

resu

lts o

f the

tria

l are

cur

rent

ly b

eing

eva

luat

ed b

y in

depe

nden

t ex

pert

s to

info

rm fu

ture

dec

isio

ns o

n ho

w to

impr

ove

asbe

stos

dis

posa

l in

to th

e fu

ture

.

In a

dditi

on, t

he E

PA h

as fu

nded

the

Com

batt

ing

Illeg

al D

umpi

ng: C

lean

-up

& P

reve

ntio

n gr

ant f

undi

ng p

rogr

am fo

r pub

lic la

nd m

anag

ers

to

com

bat i

llega

l dum

ping

. Ove

r $3

mill

ion

has

been

pro

vide

d in

fund

ing

to

publ

ic la

nd m

anag

ers

and

com

mun

ity g

roup

s in

201

4/15

and

201

5/16

to

deal

with

ille

gal d

umpi

ng.

The

EPA

has

allo

cate

d a

furt

her $

1 m

illio

n un

til J

une

2017

for t

his

prog

ram

.

For f

urth

er in

form

atio

n on

the

Was

te L

ess,

Rec

ycle

Mor

e In

itiat

ive

visi

t en

viro

nmen

t.nsw

.gov

.au

✓✓

✓✓

41. D

evel

op g

uida

nce

mat

eria

l for

the

laun

derin

g of

asb

esto

s co

ntam

inat

ed c

loth

ing

and

equi

pmen

t for

em

erge

ncy

pers

onne

l.

SW

NS

W in

co

nsul

tatio

n w

ith

Emer

genc

y S

ervi

ces

Sch

edul

ed fo

r 201

5–2

016

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 25

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

42. P

rom

ote

bi-a

nnua

l exe

rcis

es to

test

cur

rent

em

erge

ncy

guid

elin

es to

ens

ure

appr

opria

te re

spon

se le

vels

for a

sbes

tos

inci

dent

s.

Emer

genc

y S

ervi

ces

EPA

H

AC

A

LGN

SW

The

NS

W a

sbes

tos

emer

genc

y su

b-pl

an d

etai

ls th

e sp

ecifi

c ar

rang

emen

ts fo

r the

coo

rdin

ated

fund

ing

and

man

agem

ent o

f asb

esto

s de

bris

dur

ing

and

follo

win

g a

larg

er s

cale

em

erge

ncy,

bei

ng a

n ev

ent

that

requ

ires

a si

gnifi

cant

and

coo

rdin

ated

resp

onse

, whe

re th

e pr

esen

ce o

f asb

esto

s co

ntai

ning

mat

eria

l in

the

com

mun

ity p

oses

a

sign

ifica

nt ri

sk to

pub

lic h

ealth

and

saf

ety.

This

pla

n is

des

igne

d to

aug

men

t and

be

com

plem

enta

ry to

the

curr

ent

arra

ngem

ents

for t

he m

anag

emen

t of h

azar

dous

mat

eria

ls a

s de

taile

d in

th

e H

azm

at/C

BR

N e

mer

genc

y pl

an.

✓✓

43. P

rom

ote

asbe

stos

-rel

ated

em

erge

ncy

resp

onse

pla

ns th

roug

h re

leva

nt g

over

nmen

t and

cou

ncil

web

site

s.EP

A

HA

CA

The

EPA

on

beha

lf of

all

com

bat a

genc

ies

is d

evel

opin

g a

trai

ning

pr

ogra

m th

at b

uild

s on

the

NS

W a

sbes

tos

emer

genc

y su

b-pl

an.

✓✓

44. E

ncou

rage

the

use

of e

cono

mic

ince

ntiv

es th

roug

h th

e w

aste

le

vy s

chem

e to

sup

port

the

safe

han

dlin

g an

d di

spos

al o

f sm

all (

hous

ehol

d) q

uant

ities

of a

sbes

tos

was

te.

EPA

H

AC

AR

efer

to in

itiat

ive

40✓

✓✓

✓

45. P

rom

ote

and

expa

nd th

e ex

iste

nce

and

use

of th

e R

egio

nal

Illeg

al D

umpi

ng p

rogr

am in

regi

onal

and

rura

l are

as to

impr

ove

appr

opria

te d

ispo

sal o

f asb

esto

s w

aste

.

EPA

LG

NS

WR

efer

to in

itiat

ive

40✓

✓✓

✓

46. P

rom

ote

the

pilo

ting

of w

aste

trac

ing

tech

nolo

gy.

EPA

Asb

esto

s tr

ansp

orte

rs a

nd fa

cilit

ies

rece

ivin

g as

best

os w

aste

mus

t re

port

the

mov

emen

t of t

his

was

te to

the

EPA

. To

help

indu

stry

mee

t th

eir l

egal

obl

igat

ions

the

EPA

has

dev

elop

ed a

n ea

sy to

use

onl

ine

tool

, W

aste

Loca

te.

Was

teLo

cate

gen

erat

es a

uni

que

EPA

con

sign

mne

nt IS

that

will

allo

w

each

load

to b

e m

onito

red

from

the

plac

e of

gen

erat

ion

to th

e si

te o

f di

spos

al.

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

at w

aste

loca

te.e

pa.n

sw.g

ov.a

u

✓✓

✓✓

47. P

rovi

de p

ublic

land

man

ager

s w

ith in

form

atio

n an

d te

chni

cal

supp

ort.

EPA

/ S

W N

SW

Ref

er to

initi

ativ

e 40

✓✓

✓✓

48. C

onsi

der a

nd p

lan

to a

ccom

mod

ate

futu

re e

xpec

ted

need

s of

dis

pose

d as

best

os m

ater

ials

and

redu

ce b

arrie

rs fo

r saf

e di

spos

al.

EPA

/ LG

NS

WR

efer

to in

itiat

ive

40✓

✓✓

✓

49. U

nder

take

an

annu

al re

gula

tory

cam

paig

n fo

cuss

ing

on

illeg

al d

umpi

ng in

regi

onal

, rur

al a

nd re

mot

e re

gion

s of

NS

W,

incl

udin

g th

e ab

orig

inal

com

mun

ities

, to

help

pro

mot

e th

e sa

fe

man

agem

ent o

f asb

esto

s.

EPA

Ref

er to

initi

ativ

e 40

✓✓

✓✓

50. U

nder

take

an

annu

al re

gula

tory

cam

paig

n fo

cuss

ing

on

recy

cled

was

te p

rodu

cts

such

as

aggr

egat

e, g

reen

was

te

and

conc

rete

to a

ssis

t ind

ustr

y w

ith m

eetin

g th

eir r

egul

ator

y ob

ligat

ions

.

EPA

Ref

er to

initi

ativ

e 40

✓✓

✓✓

26 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

51. U

nder

take

an

annu

al re

gula

tory

cam

paig

n fo

cuss

ing

on th

e tr

ansp

ort a

nd d

ispo

sal o

f asb

esto

s to

ass

ist i

ndus

try

with

m

eetin

g th

eir r

egul

ator

y ob

ligat

ions

.

EPA

Ref

er to

initi

ativ

e 40

✓✓

✓✓

52. R

evie

w th

e G

uide

: Man

agem

ent o

f asb

esto

s in

con

stru

ctio

n an

d de

mol

ition

was

te (c

atal

ogue

no.

WC

0277

2) to

inco

rpor

ate

othe

r for

ms

of re

cycl

ing

prod

ucts

suc

h as

con

cret

e, g

reen

w

aste

and

com

post

.

EPA

S

W N

SW

The

Envi

ronm

ent P

rote

ctio

n A

utho

rity

has

deve

lope

d a

draf

t pro

toco

l in

con

sulta

tion

with

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

and

Min

istr

y of

Hea

lth a

nd h

as

been

revi

ewed

and

app

rove

d by

the

Hea

ds o

f Asb

esto

s C

oord

inat

ion

Aut

horit

ies.

The

draf

t pub

licat

ion

will

be

rele

ased

sho

rtly

for p

ublic

and

indu

stry

co

nsul

tatio

n.

✓✓

✓

53. P

rovi

de e

duca

tion

to la

ndfil

l ope

rato

rs o

n th

e re

quire

men

ts

rela

ting

to th

e di

spos

al o

f asb

esto

s w

aste

EPA

S

W N

SW

Saf

eWor

k N

SW

and

the

Envi

ronm

ent P

rote

ctio

n A

utho

rity

have

co

llabo

rativ

ely

been

car

ryin

g ou

t a s

erie

s of

sta

te-w

ide

visi

ts to

as

best

os w

aste

faci

litie

s to

ens

ure

asbe

stos

man

agem

ent s

yste

ms

mee

t leg

isla

tive

requ

irem

ents

and

to p

rovi

de in

form

atio

n an

d ed

ucat

ion

to w

orke

rs a

t asb

esto

s w

aste

faci

litie

s on

app

ropr

iate

han

dlin

g an

d st

orag

e of

asb

esto

s.

The

proj

ect t

eam

has

vis

ited

a nu

mbe

r of a

sbes

tos

was

te fa

cilit

ies

to c

heck

asb

esto

s re

gist

ers,

asb

esto

s m

anag

emen

t pla

ns,

deco

ntam

inat

ion

proc

edur

es, h

ealth

mon

itorin

g of

wor

kers

, inc

iden

t an

d em

erge

ncy

proc

edur

es, a

nd th

at a

sbes

tos

awar

enes

s tr

aini

ng a

nd

pers

onal

pro

tect

ive

equi

pmen

t is

prov

ided

.

The

findi

ngs

from

the

site

vis

its w

ill b

e us

ed to

ass

ess

whe

ther

m

anag

emen

t of a

sbes

tos

in w

aste

faci

litie

s re

pres

ents

an

emer

ging

is

sue

that

requ

ires

addi

tiona

l int

erve

ntio

ns fr

om S

afeW

ork

NS

W.

✓✓

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 27

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

54. I

dent

ify o

ppor

tuni

ties

for i

mpr

oved

coo

rdin

atio

n an

d a

natio

nal

appr

oach

to a

sbes

tos

issu

es, i

nclu

ding

par

ticip

atio

n in

the

Nat

iona

l Asb

esto

s M

anag

emen

t Rev

iew

.

HA

CA

The

Nat

iona

l Str

ateg

ic P

lan

for A

sbes

tos

Man

agem

ent a

nd A

war

enes

s es

tabl

ishe

s a

fram

ewor

k w

ithin

whi

ch th

e st

ates

and

terr

itorie

s ar

e ab

le

to w

ork

coop

erat

ivel

y an

d in

depe

nden

tly to

ach

ieve

set

obj

ectiv

es.

The

Asb

esto

s S

afet

y an

d Er

adic

atio

n A

genc

y ov

erse

es th

e co

ordi

natio

n of

the

plan

and

ove

r the

life

of t

he p

lan

will

pro

vide

insi

ghts

into

th

e di

men

sion

s of

asb

esto

s m

anag

emen

t and

era

dica

tion

acro

ss

Aus

tral

ia’s

pub

lic h

ealth

, env

ironm

ent,

pla

nnin

g, w

ork

heal

th a

nd s

afet

y,

emer

genc

y se

rvic

es a

nd re

sear

ch s

ecto

rs.

The

plan

sup

port

s co

ordi

natin

g co

mm

on e

ffor

ts a

cros

s go

vern

men

ts

with

a s

tron

g fo

cus

on fa

cilit

atin

g in

form

atio

n sh

arin

g. T

he p

lan

will

no

t dire

ct o

r dup

licat

e th

e co

nten

t of a

ny s

tate

, ter

ritor

y or

loca

l go

vern

men

t pla

ns.

The

NS

W s

tate

-wid

e A

sbes

tos

Pla

n en

com

pass

es a

ll pr

iorit

y ar

eas

iden

tified

in th

e N

atio

nal S

trat

egic

Pla

n fo

r Asb

esto

s M

anag

emen

t an

d A

war

enes

s. N

SW

is w

ell r

epre

sent

ed w

ith th

e C

hair

of th

e H

AC

A

Wor

king

Gro

up b

eing

a S

tate

Rep

rese

ntat

ive

on th

e A

sbes

tos

Saf

ety

and

Erad

icat

ion

Cou

ncil.

The

issu

es a

roun

d as

best

os s

afet

y, a

war

enes

s an

d m

anag

emen

t are

co

mpl

ex a

nd m

ulti-

face

ted.

Man

y of

the

issu

es c

over

ed b

y th

is p

lan,

in p

artic

ular

iden

tifica

tion

and

rem

oval

, will

requ

ire a

ll le

vels

of g

over

nmen

t to

wor

k to

geth

er

to d

eter

min

e th

e be

st a

ppro

ach

to th

is t

ask

whi

ch c

ompl

emen

ts th

e ch

arte

r of t

he H

AC

A.

Furt

her i

nfor

mat

ion

can

be fo

und

at a

sbes

toss

afet

y.go

v.au

✓✓

✓✓

55. M

onito

r and

revi

ew th

e N

SW

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan.

HA

CA

A re

view

of t

he in

itiat

ives

out

lined

in th

e St

ate-

wid

e A

sbes

tos

Pla

n is

un

dert

aken

on

an a

nnua

l bas

is.

✓✓

✓

56. R

evie

w a

nd p

rom

ote

the

Asb

esto

s B

luep

rint w

hich

out

lines

th

e ro

les

and

resp

onsi

bilit

ies

of lo

cal g

over

nmen

t and

sta

te

agen

cies

.

HA

CA

LG

NS

WS

ched

uled

201

5–2

016

✓✓

57. M

onito

r and

revi

ew th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e M

odel

A

sbes

tos

Polic

y fo

r NS

W c

ounc

ils.

LGN

SW

To m

easu

re h

ow m

any

coun

cils

hav

e ad

opte

d th

e M

odel

Asb

esto

s Po

licy,

LG

NS

W e

mai

led

an o

nlin

e qu

estio

nnai

re to

Gen

eral

Man

ager

s of

al

l cou

ncils

on

26 M

ay 2

014,

one

yea

r sin

ce th

e M

odel

Asb

esto

s Po

licy

was

issu

ed to

all

coun

cils

und

er s

ectio

n 23

A o

f the

Loc

al G

over

nmen

t A

ct 1

993

(NS

W) a

nd 1

8 m

onth

s si

nce

the

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y w

as

laun

ched

in N

ovem

ber 2

012.

In J

uly

2014

, the

resp

onse

rate

was

73

per c

ent o

f NS

W c

ounc

ils (1

11

coun

cils

) and

the

resu

lts re

veal

ed th

at 7

5 pe

r cen

t of r

espo

nden

ts h

ad a

dr

aft o

r fina

l asb

esto

s po

licy

base

d on

the

Mod

el A

sbes

tos

Polic

y.

✓✓

28 HEADS OF ASBESTOS COORDINATION AUTHORITIES

Sta

te-w

ide

Asb

esto

s P

lan

imp

lem

enta

tio

n

Init

iati

ve

Ag

enci

esA

ctio

n t

aken

2013

2014

2015

2016

58. W

ork

with

oth

er s

tate

and

nat

iona

l jur

isdi

ctio

ns to

enc

oura

ge

cons

iste

ncy

in c

ompe

nsat

ion

arra

ngem

ents

for v

ictim

s of

as

best

os-r

elat

ed d

isea

se

DD

ATh

e D

ust D

isea

ses

Aut

horit

y is

par

ticip

atin

g in

the

natio

nal S

afe

Wor

k A

ustr

alia

’s S

trat

egic

Issu

es G

roup

for W

orke

rs C

ompe

nsat

ion.

Thi

s gr

oup

is to

con

side

r jur

isdi

ctio

nal d

iffer

ence

s an

d id

entif

y in

divi

dual

ar

eas

whe

re n

atio

nal c

onsi

sten

cy c

ould

be

achi

eved

in th

e ar

ea o

f dus

t di

seas

es.

✓✓

✓✓

59. P

rom

ote

colla

bora

tive

info

rmat

ion,

adv

ice

and

regu

lato

ry

serv

ices

acr

oss

agen

cies

.C

ross

age

ncy

The

HA

CA

has

pro

vide

d im

prov

ed c

oord

inat

ion

betw

een

rele

vant

go

vern

men

t age

ncie

s w

ith a

role

in a

sbes

tos

and

loca

l cou

ncils

and

ha

ve p

laye

d an

inte

ract

ive

role

in th

e fo

llow

ing:

• Lo

ose-

fill a

sbes

tos

insu

latio

n

• N

atur

ally

-occ

urrin

g as

best

os

• W

oods

reef

Min

e re

habi

litat

ion

proj

ect

• N

SW

asb

esto

s em

erge

ncy

sub-

plan

.

✓✓

✓✓

60. I

dent

ify, d

evel

op a

nd p

rogr

ess

part

ners

hips

with

sta

keho

lder

s,

loca

l cou

ncils

and

gov

ernm

ent a

genc

ies.

HA

CA

The

HA

CA

mee

ts t

wic

e ye

arly

and

adh

oc a

s re

quire

d.

The

HA

CA

Wor

king

Gro

up m

eets

on

a m

onth

ly b

asis

and

liai

ses

regu

larly

out

-of-

sess

ion

to p

rogr

ess

prog

ram

s of

wor

k.

The

HA

CA

has

con

tinue

d to

bui

ld a

nd p

rogr

ess

rela

tions

hips

thro

ugh

the

Asb

esto

s D

isea

ses

Res

earc

h In

stitu

te, t

he A

sbes

tos

Dis

ease

s Fo

unda

tion

of A

ustr

alia

, the

Dem

oliti

on a

nd A

sbes

tos

Con

sulta

tive

Com

mitt

ee, t

he H

WS

A Im

port

ed M

ater

ials

with

Asb

esto

s W

orki

ng

Gro

up, E

mer

genc

y S

ervi

ces

Org

anis

atio

ns a

nd th

e Lo

ose

Fill

Asb

esto

s In

sula

tion

Task

forc

e.

✓✓

✓✓

61. U

nder

take

coo

rdin

ated

mon

itorin

g an

d en

forc

emen

t of

asbe

stos

rem

oval

and

dis

posa

l wor

k.EP

A

HA

CA

H

ealth

N

SW

Cou

ncils

Sen

ior o

ffice

rs o

f the

rele

vant

age

ncie

s lia

ise

and

exch

ange

info

rmat

ion

on a

regu

lar b

asis

and

thro

ugh

regu

lar H

AC

A m

eetin

gs to

ens

ure

cont

inue

d m

onito

ring

and

enfo

rcem

ent o

f asb

esto

s re

mov

al a

nd

disp

osal

wor

k in

clud

ing

annu

al re

gula

tory

cam

paig

ns. R

efer

to in

itiat

ives

32

, 49

–51.

✓✓

✓✓

62. S

tren

gthe

n cr

oss

agen

cy in

form

atio

n sh

arin

g of

regu

lato

ry

mon

itorin

g, e

nfor

cem

ent a

ctio

ns a

nd s

tatu

tory

bre

ache

s of

w

ork

heal

th a

nd s

afet

y, a

nd e

nviro

nmen

tal l

egis

latio

n.

EPA

H

AC

A

Hea

lth

NS

W C

ounc

ils

Sen

ior o

ffice

rs o

f the

rele

vant

age

ncie

s lia

ise

and

exch

ange

info

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RESEARCH COMMUNICATION PREVENTION COORDINATION: YEAR IN REVIEW 2014–2015 29

Definitions:

ADRI Asbestos Diseases Research Institute

AEC Asbestos Education Committee

ADFA Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia

DACC Demolition and Asbestos Consultative Committee

DDA Dust Diseases Authority

DI Department of Industry

DP&E Department of Planning and Environment

Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management

EPA Environment Protection Authority

GP NSW Government Properties NSW

HACA Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities

Health Ministry of Health

HWSA Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities

LGNSW Local Government NSW

SW NSW SafeWork NSW

OLG Office of Local Government

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