Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 1 f 6 Purpse The purpse f this prgram is t prvide basic precautins and prtectins fr emplyees t avid expsure t asbests cntaining material r presumed asbests cntaining material. Scpe This prgram applies t all ANC Fster emplyees. When wrk is perfrmed n a nnwned r perated site, the peratr s prgram shall take precedence, hwever, this dcument cvers ANC Fster emplyees and cntractrs and shall be used n wned premises, r when an peratr s prgram desn t exist r is less stringent. Key Respnsibilities Managers/Supervisrs ANC Fster must nt supply a prhibited carcingenic substance including any item that cntains any frm f asbests unless: the substance is t be used fr the purpse f research r analysis; and the persn t whm the substance is t be supplied prvides evidence that WrkCver has been ntified, in accrdance with Part 12.3 f the OHS Regulatin, f the intentin f that persn t use the same type f carcingenic substance Prhibit ANC Fster emplyees frm wrking until material in questin is cnfirmed as nn-asbests r abated. Ensure prper emplyee training is cmpleted. A bnded asbests licence has been required t remve mre than 10 square metres f bnded asbests material. A licensed bnded asbests remvalist can remve any amunt f bnded asbests material. A friable asbests licence is required t remve, repair r disturb any amunt f friable asbests. A friable asbests remvalist can remve any quantity f bnded and/r friable asbests. Ensure that all requirements f this prgram are understd and fllwed by thse wrking under his/her directin. All Emplyees All emplyees are required t act in strict cmpliance with the requirements f this prgram and delay r discntinue wrk if there is ever an unreslved cncern regarding expsure t asbests.
Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 2 f 6 Prcedure Health Effects Asbests is frmed in fibre bundles and, as it is further prcessed r disturbed, the fibre bundles becme prgressively finer and mre hazardus t health. The small fibres are the mst dangerus. They are invisible t the naked eye and, when inhaled, penetrate the deepest part f the lungs (respirable fibres). Significant health risks may arise frm the inhalatin f airbrne asbests fibres. Cmpared with straight amphible fibres, such as amsite and crcidlite,.chrystile fibres are curly and less likely t penetrate the deepest parts f the lung. Breathing in fibres brings a risk f asbestsis, lung cancer and mesthelima. Evidence suggests that asbests causes gastrintestinal and laryngeal cancers in humans, but t a far lesser extent than lung cancer. Usually, asbests-related diseases have a delay r latency perid f 20 t 40 years between first expsure and the nset f symptms and detectin f the disease. Asbests-related diseases can appear r prgress even after a persn is n lnger expsed. Identifying Asbests Any freseeable hazards arising frm the presence f material cntaining asbests premises that has the ptential t harm the health r safety f any persn accessing, using r egressing frm the premises must be identified. ANC Fster must identify all asbests cntaining materials (ACM) within a wrkplace, and these materials must be recrded in an asbests register. Risk Assessment The persn in charge f a premise that cntains asbests r asbests-cntaining material must ensure that risk assessment and cntrl measures are carried ut in accrdance with the dcument entitled Guide t the Cntrl f Asbests Hazards in Buildings and Structures" [NOHSC: 3002 (1988)] published by the NOHS Cmmissin. Asbests Register ANC Fster must ensure that: A register, in which the type, cnditin and lcatin f all asbests and asbests-cntaining material in any place f wrk is recrded, is prepared and maintained, and Any actin taken t cntrl asbests and asbests-cntaining material in the place f wrk r in plant at the place f wrk is recrded in the register, including details f: any assessment cncerning the asbests that tk place befre the wrk was carried ut, and if the wrk was carried ut by a cntractr rather than by an emplyee f ANC Fster, the name f the persn wh carried ut the wrk, and the date n which the wrk was carried ut, and All ccupiers f the place f wrk are prvided with a cpy f the register and all updates t it. The asbests register shuld als include details f:
Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 3 f 6 Details f any materials presumed t cntain asbests material Any inaccessible areas likely t have ACM The results f any analysis that has cnfirmed (r nt cnfirmed) the presence f asbests The date when the risk assessment was made and details n the cmpetent persns wh carried ut the assessment The findings and cnclusins f the risk assessment The results f any air mnitring r airbrne fibres, and the assessment f these results The cntrl measures recmmended and decided upn as a result f the risk assessment Any remval, repair r disturbance f ACM, including the cmpany and persns invlved, the date and scpe f the wrk undertaken, and details f the clearance certificates. The asbests register must be made accessible t all thse within the wrkplace and shuld be reviewed and apprpriately updated at least every 12 mnths, r whenever there is a change in circumstances and/r cnditins. Mnitring Occupatinal mnitring (persnal mnitring) Occupatinal mnitring is measuring airbrne respirable fibres in the wrker s breathing zne and cmparing it with the expsure standard. This type f mnitring is generally nt carried ut during remval wrk. The expsure standard fr all types f asbests is 0.1 fibres per millilitre f air. Cntrl mnitring (area r static mnitring) Cntrl mnitring indicates the adequacy f cntrls put int place during asbests wrk. Cntrl mnitring is measuring airbrne respirable fibre levels and cmparing them with the actin levels shwn belw. If these levels are exceeded, actin shuld be taken t re-evaluate cntrls. Actin Level (airbrne asbests fibres/ml) Less than 0.01 Between 0.01 and 0.02 Mre than 0.02 Actin Cntinue with cntrl measures Review cntrl measures Stp remval wrk and find the cause Clearance mnitring Clearance mnitring shuld be carried ut fllwing asbests remval wrk. All friable asbests remval wrk must have a clearance certificate at the cmpletin f wrk. The clearance certificate must be cmpleted by an ccupatinal hygienist and the results assessed by a labratry accredited by NATA fr the test methd. Clearance mnitring generally requires air mnitring, settled dust samples and a visual assessment t determine the effectiveness f asbests decntaminatin wrk. Air mnitring shuld nt be used as an alternative t visual assessment in estimating asbests cntaminatin and expsure.
Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 4 f 6 Health Surveillance The need fr asbests-related health surveillance shuld be determined by an assessment f the ptential fr expsure t asbests in accrdance with the Occupatinal Health and Safety Regulatin 2001 (OHS Regulatin). Medical examinatins fr asbests expsure are t be carried ut by a WrkCver authrised medical practitiner r the Dust Diseases Bard. Expsure Register Under clauses 169 and 170 f the OHS Regulatin, emplyers have an bligatin t keep a recrd f any expsure r likely expsure t asbests and prvide a statement t emplyees n the terminatin f their emplyment. Emplyers are t include in an asbests expsure register the name f thse expsed, the date and lcatin f expsure, and the type f wrk being carried ut at the time f expsure. All recrds relating t asbests expsure are t be kept fr 30 years frm the date f last expsure. Upn terminatin f emplyment, the emplyer is t supply a letter t the emplyee nting that they culd have been expsed t asbests in the curse f their emplyment. The letter (r statement) shuld cntain: The name f the carcingenic substance The perid f expsure r ptential expsure Hw and where recrds f the expsure r ptential expsure can be btained A recmmendatin t have peridic health assessments Details f the types f health tests that are relevant in the circumstances. Cntrl Measures fr Bnded Asbests Materials Wrk prcedures shuld be develped t minimise the release f dust r fibres. When wrking with bnded asbests prducts: Use barriers t restrict entry f unauthrised persnnel t the wrk area and t cntrl cntaminatin Place asbests remval cautin signs at the barriers, which cmply with AS 1319 Safety Signs fr Occupatinal Envirnment Use persnal prtective equipment, including cveralls and a respiratr - cveralls shuld preferably be dispsable and cveralls with Velcr-type fasteners are nt suitable Only use nn-pwered hand tls as they generate less dust D nt use pwer tls, such as abrasive cutters and sanders Use wet methds t dampen material, r use a suitable vacuum cleaner that cmplies with the AS/NZ 60035.2.60 and is fitted with an apprpriate attachment t reduce the release f dust - d nt use a husehld vacuum cleaner Wrk in well-ventilated areas, where pssible Use 200-micrn thick plastic drp sheets t cllect debris, and label and dispse f apprpriately - take precautins t prevent slips and trips hazards Clean-up using wet methds, r a suitable vacuum cleaner - d nt use a husehld vacuum cleaner
Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 5 f 6 Dispse f waste and cllected dust in 200-micrn thick plastic bags that are sealed and clearly labelled as cntaining asbests waste Avid any abrading r scrubbing f the material's surface Recycled plastic is nt t be used as it may cntain flaws Plastic used in asbests remval is nt t be reused. Water Blasting It is illegal t water-blast asbests cntaining materials because there is a high risk f asbests fibres being released int the atmsphere and inhaled. Respiratry Prtectin and Persnal Prtective Equipment Respiratrs shuld cmply with the AS/NZS 1716 Respiratry Prtective Devices and selected, used and stred in accrdance with AS/NZS 1715 Selectin, Use and Maintenance f Respiratry Prtective Devices. Refer t the manufacturer s r supplier s infrmatin regarding the suitability f respiratrs. Wrkers must be clean-shaven when wearing respiratrs that rely n facial fit. Facial fit tests shuld be cnducted t ensure an effective seal. ANC Fster must prvide apprpriate instructin and training n the prper wear and care f the respiratrs. Additinal PPE can include: Prtective cveralls Glves Head cverings / Ft cverings Vented gggles / Face Shields And thers based n the hazard Waste Dispsal All bnded asbests waste must be: Kept damp (prevent runff water) Cllected, labelled and sealed using apprpriate plastic r leak prf cntainers Stred in labelled, plastic-lined bins that are cvered, r leak-prf cntainers that are cvered Placed in bins r trucks that are large enugh t cntain full sheets withut breaking them Stred in a secure area Remved frm the site as sn as practicable. All friable asbests material must be: Kept damp r sealed with PVA glue Cllected and sealed in 200-micrn thick, apprpriately labelled, plastic bags Duble wrapped in 200-micrn thick plastic bags in bags that weigh nt mre than 25 kilgrams, and are
Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Directr Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 6 f 6 less than half full Stred in a secure area, awaiting remval Remved frm the site as sn as practicable. The DECC allws transprt f asbests cntaminated sil in unlined bulk trucks, prvided the sil is kept damp, the lad is securely lcked and cvered with plastic and a fully prtective tarp, and the truck is decntaminated befre it leaves the waste facility. Transprtatin All asbests waste must be transprted in a cvered leak-prf vehicle and: Nt mixed with general building waste Nt taken t a waste facility fr recycling. Only vehicles licensed by the DECC can transprt friable asbests waste in the metrplitan area. Dispsal Asbests waste in any frm must be dispsed f in a manner apprved by DECC and at a waste facility licensed by the DECC t accept asbests waste. NSW licensed landfills that accept asbests waste frm the public are listed by regin n the DECC website. Vehicles and their cntainers must be cleaned befre leaving the waste facility. Cntact the DECC and/r the lcal cuncil fr details f waste facilities that can accept asbests waste. T demnstrate prf f prper dispsal, cpies f asbests waste dispsal receipts are t be kept fr inspectin by WrkCver, the DECC r the lcal cuncil. Training All thse invlved in friable asbests remval must have undertaken WrkCver recgnised training in friable asbests remval.