Asbestos in the home and workplace:
With 1 in every 3 Australian homes potentially containing asbestos, Tradies and handymen who work on domestic properties are more likely to come across asbestos every day of their working life so it’s vital they learn to identify and manage asbestos safely.
Even if you’ve worked with asbestos before and not been concerned about managing it safely, it’s time to
TAKE THE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY
Learn where asbestos might be located on the job and how to manage it safely!
Many tradespersons and workers including labourers and handymen can expect to encounter products made from asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in their day-to-day work. And while regulations on asbestos management can vary in each State and Territory, we have developed some guidelines to help Tradies and those working on domestic properties manage asbestos safely to minimise the risks to their health and the health of colleagues, families and bystanders.
Attending a commercial workplace
If you are likely to disturb asbestos in order to complete your work, then the person with management of control of the workplace you are attending must provide you with a copy of their asbestos register, when requested. An asbestos register is used to identify where asbestos is located.
By law in Western Australia all workplaces potentially containing asbestos should contain a register, The register may look similar to this:
20 Point Safety Check
1. 1 in 3 Australian homes contain asbestos including brick, weatherboard, fibro, clad homes and apartments.
2. Asbestos was widely used before 1987 in various building materials so if a dwelling was built or renovated prior to 1990, it most likely contains asbestos in some form or another.
3. Disturbing asbestos materials during renovations, maintenance or demolition puts the health of Tradies, families and bystanders at risk, including children.
4. Dealing with asbestos is important and serious, but it’s not overwhelming – IT IS MANAGEABLE!
5. If sealed, in good, stable condition and left undisturbed, asbestos materials are unlikely to release dangerous fibres and pose a health risk and don’t need to be removed if they are in good condition.
6. Before commencing work, Tradies should conduct a RESIDENTIAL ASBESTOS CHECKLIST that can be downloaded from asbestosawareness.com.au. It provides instructions on conducting a visual inspection of residential properties to help Tradies identify asbestos-containing materials to manage the job safely.
7. Only qualified tradespeople with asbestos awareness training can work on materials identified as asbestos.
8. Tradies should undergo Asbestos Awareness and Management Training to increase their knowledge of asbestos-containing materials and to learn how to manage it safely!
9. Assume asbestos materials are present when renovating or working in and around residential properties and take every precaution.
10. A formal inspection and sample testing conducted by a licenced asbestos assessor or occupational hygienist is the only way to be sure if asbestos is present.
11. There are two types of asbestos building materials: “non-friable” and “friable”.
12. Non-Friable Asbestos is any material (other than friable asbestos) that contains asbestos. Non-friable asbestos cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure when dry.
13. Products containing non-friable asbestos can be found anywhere! Common uses in residential buildings include: asbestos cement (AC) sheeting (fibro) which may be flat or corrugated that was used internally and externally as roofing, fencing, wall and floor coverings, for water drainage and guttering, flue pipes and in wet or high temperature areas.
14. Friable Asbestos is any material containing asbestos in the form of a powder or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry.
15. Friable asbestos was mainly used in industrial applications but nonfriable asbestos can become friable if damaged, unsealed and exposed to weather.
16. All friable asbestos must be removed by a Class A Licenced Asbestos Removalist.
17. NEVER use high pressure water spray or compressed air on asbestos materials. It is prohibited as they can cause asbestos to become friable.
18. NEVER use power tools, equipment or any other implement on asbestos materials that may generate dust and release fibres UNLESS you’ve undergone Asbestos Awareness Training.
- Power tools include drills, angle grinders, circular saws and sanders.
- Other implements that may loosen fibres include brooms.
19. ALWAYS keep a Personal Protective Equipment Kit (PPE) on hand as part of your tool kit should you come across asbestos in the workplace. A list of items that make up a PPE Kit
20. Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… Don’t dump it!
