an insiders guide to asbestos removal

Page | 1 – An insider’s guide to Asbestos Removal in Australia

AlertForce.com.au Ph: 1800 900 222

Report: An insider’s guide to Asbestos Removal

AlertForce Pty Limited Suite 205, 24-30 Springfield Avenue, Potts Point NSW 2011 ABN: 61 571 082 880 PH: 1800 900 222

Email: [email protected] Web: AlertForce.com.au



Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2

About our organisation ...................................................................................................... 4

Fatal attraction .................................................................................................................. 5

A common story ................................................................................................................ 6

Serious about asbestos ..................................................................................................... 8

The new asbestos regime – how do we comply? ............................................................. 9

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency .................................................................. 9

National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management ............................... 10

Compliance – Commercial Buildings .............................................................................. 11

Asbestos survey requirements ........................................................................................ 11

Business opportunities .................................................................................................... 12

Licence process by State ................................................................................................ 14

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in NSW ............................................................. 15

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in WA ............................................................... 18

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in ACT .............................................................. 20

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in Queensland .................................................. 23

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in Tasmania ...................................................... 26

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in Victoria .......................................................... 29

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in South Australia .............................................. 32

How to get an Asbestos A or B licence in Northern Territory .......................................... 34



Dear Colleague,

After years of experience in the industry and seeing the good, bad and the ugly of people trying to do

better in their health and safety career, I’ve put together this short report about the opportunities

currently available around Asbestos Removal. This report is designed as an educational service to

help individuals, and businesses, make the right choices in the Work Health and Safety field

(previously know as OHS) and maximise your chances of getting the best jobs and that next jump up

in pay.

For transparency, I declare that AlertForce is in the health and safety training business, specifically

Asbestos Removal Training hence the interest in the subject. Being successful at getting the job you

want is inevitably supported by quality training. If we can be of help with your career, we’re only a

phone call or email away, and, regardless of whether we can help you with your career or not, I wish

you every success with maximising your earning potential.

Sincerely,

Brendan Torazzi – CEO

AlertForce.com.au

Ph: 1800 900 222

[email protected]



About AlertForce AlertForce specialises in delivering fast, competency-based, online and face-to-face WHS courses to

mitigate risk and health and safety hazards in workplaces. Our customers range from individuals

through to international blue-chip companies such as Telstra, NBN Co, Ausgrid, ISGM and BHP

Billiton.

AlertForce are also a Registered Training Organisation (NTIS 91826). Accredited courses are

represented on our website where ever you see the Nationally Recognised Training logo on our

website.

About Brendan Torazzi Brendan has 20 years experience in running small service-based businesses that service corporate

and government clients. After finishing a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (B.Comm UNSW), Brendan

successfully ran a translation agency business for 11 years before selling it to a larger concern in

2002. At AlertForce, Brendan brings many years of good old fashioned client-based service as well as

a love of quality education. He has recently, early 2013, finished a Masters of Business Technology

(MBT) at the University of NSW with a distinction average.



Fatal Attraction

Asbestos, once claimed to be the world’s miracle fibre and named from the ancient Greek word for

''inextinguishable'' is heat resistant, cheap, strong and flexible, making it the perfect material for more

than 3000 products, including insulation, vinyl /carpet underlay, brake linings, roof tiles and cement

sheeting. Asbestos fibres are up to 200 times thinner than a human hair. Because asbestos is such a

tiny fibre with barbs or hooks, it needs to be attached to something. When asbestos fibres are mixed

with other materials, it produces what is called an asbestos containing material or for acronym lovers

ACM. It was easily mined then combined, and Australia loved it. Now, for good reason, it’s called the

“Devils Dust”.

Any house or commercial building built before 2003 (when it was banned) is assumed to contain

asbestos.

Bill Shorten, the employment and workplace relations minister, drew the analogy:



"More people will die from asbestos in Australia than died in the fields of Flanders in World War I”

There is a move for all home renovators to have their property assessed prior to renovations however

we are not quite there yet. The DIY home renovator phenomenon has exploded over the last 5 or so

years (everyone’s a builder now) but has anyone seen asbestos warnings or asbestos safety

segments on the TV renovation shows?

It is envisaged a third wave of asbestos disease affected people will start to emerge. It started with

miners, wharfies and all sorts of tradesmen and their family members.

Now a different generation of home renovators and others are being diagnosed with cancer after

exposure to asbestos. It’s called the “Third Wave” of asbestos sufferers. First came the miners, many

from the Wittenoom blue asbestos mine in Western Australia's Pilbara, which closed in 1967. Next

were the people who worked directly with asbestos, in factories, unloading it at the docks, or as

builders, plumbers, electricians and carpenters. Now, the third or ''third person'' wave is emerging and

includes wave two children and home renovators.

Asbestos, once claimed to be the world’s

miracle fibre is now, for good reason, called the “Devils Dust”.



A common story We own a humble Red Bricker (house) built in the 60’s – there’s asbestos on the kitchen walls behind

a renovation that was done some 8 years ago. Same for the bathroom – it’s behind the tiles after a

bathroom Reno' the previous owners did. There’s asbestos cladding in the laundry, under the eaves,

on the plumbing and get this – when we moved in we found something under the house that was big,

flat and wrapped in plastic, leaning against a brick wall.

Like all home buyers we paid for a building inspection before buying – not a word about asbestos.

But don’t worry – we got rid of the big flat plastic gift, gratuitously left by the previous owner (yes it was

cladding containing asbestos) and all other asbestos is “contained” (painted & sealed).



Serious about asbestos

Renewed awareness in the community brought asbestos top of mind with the recent furore over

asbestos disposal (Telstra pits) by NBN contractors and a timely reminder that the devils dust is a

clear & present danger everywhere.

Concern over the asbestos related disease fatalities and the Telstra pit episode has prompted

Governments in Australia to regulate everything “asbestos”. Before this it was slowly, slowly in terms

of training and documenting competency of asbestos workers but now it’s a matter of urgency.

Going back a little, there’s a new work health and safety regime (WHS Act & Regulations 2011) from 1

January 2012 and following on, a new asbestos regime. On July 1, the new Asbestos Safety and

Eradication Agency will begin work on a national strategic plan to remove asbestos from government

and commercial buildings, increase asbestos awareness and tackle illegal dumping of the toxic waste.

It will also oversee the National Asbestos Exposure Register, launched on June 7, which allows

everyone to record details of incidents where they may have breathed in asbestos fibres. This applies

to the NBN / Telstra pit incidents.



The new asbestos regime – how do we comply? Some dry stuff, but you need to know this…. The Work Health & Safety (WHS) Act 2011 and WHS

Regulations 2011 took affect 1 January 2012. The Act & the Regulations include new requirements for

asbestos management including a focus on inspection, signage, planning and documentation. Chapter

8 in the regulations contains specific provisions relating to asbestos.

This chapter includes requirements for the

control of exposure to asbestos as well as

requirements for PCBUs (employers) who

have management or control of a

workplace to manage asbestos. This duty

includes requirements relating to the

identification of asbestos, recording the

location of asbestos in a register, and

planning for the management of asbestos.

Chapter 8 also includes provisions for the

licensing of asbestos removalists and

asbestos assessors. Asbestos assessors

will be trainedre and licenced and only

asbestos assessors will be able to

conduct air monitoring and issue

clearance certificates where friable (loose)

asbestos is being removed. Another key change in NSW is that applicants for a Class A (friable)

asbestos removal licence will need to have a certified safety management system. Transitional

arrangements for existing licence holders are in place (See the Alertforce website)

All states have pre-existing asbestos requirements with no significant barrier to compliance. While

Victoria and Western Australia have not immediately adopted the new Workplace Health & Safety

laws it is envisaged they will align to the new national standard in terms of asbestos health & safety.

Queensland is the only state with a formal grace period until January 2014.

A “quick look” summary by Jurisdiction is set out at the end of this report.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency On 1 July 2013 the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency commenced operations as Australia’s

first national, independent agency dedicated to working with jurisdictions and stakeholders to create a

nationally consistent approach to the eradication, handling and awareness of asbestos. The Agency

will implement the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management.

In addition to the WHS Act & Regulations 2011 there are 2 new Codes of Practice – These codes show you how to manage everything asbestos. CODE OF PRACTICE

Ø HOW TO MANAGE AND CONTROL ASBESTOS IN THE WORKPLACE and

Ø HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE ASBESTOS

Source: Alertforce.com.au



National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management The aim of the Plan is to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres, in order to eliminate asbestos-related

disease in Australia.

Sadly, asbestos-related deaths are not expected to peak until

2020, and tragically, it has been estimated that another 30-

40,000 people will be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases

in the next 20 years.

An additional $6.4 million is allocated for the new

Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to implement the

National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and

Management. The additional $6.4 million will allow the Agency to

develop strategies for awareness raising, conduct research,

improve identification techniques and finding and sharing best

practice in asbestos management and handling. WA is not

supporting this initiative.

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council, with

representatives from states and territories, unions, business and

community groups, will assist the Agency in its work.

The Agency also manages the first National Asbestos Exposure

Register. The register captures the details of members of the

community who think they may have been exposed to asbestos

containing materials (ACMs). It is available at

www.asbestossafety.gov.au

Steps to compliance Step 1. Get a survey done Go through your portfolio and ascertain which buildings were completed before 1st January 2004). Once you have the list order an asbestos survey as soon as reasonably practicable. Step 2. Act on survey results All surveys whether asbestos or ACM are found, must be kept onsite and available. If asbestos or ACM are found you need to ensure a new compliant onsite asbestos register and Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) is provided and made available to those who might be at risk. An AMP should be developed by professional Asbestos specialists so it will tell all, what they need to know.



Compliance – Commercial Buildings All buildings that contain a common property workplace built before 1st January 2004 must comply.

The fact is while blue asbestos or Crocidolite (the most dangerous asbestos) was phased out from

1967 asbestos like Amosite were used until 1987 and not fully banned from use until 31st December

2003.

Asbestos survey requirements There is a requirement to survey the building area and identify all loose (friable) asbestos as well as

stable kinds (bonded) found in building materials called Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM). ACM is

found in all kinds of building materials. In fact there are over 3000.

The most “at risk” people you deal with are your contractors. So ensure your engagement system

allows for trades & contractors; How?

Inform the contractor that there is an asbestos register onsite that they must consult before

conducting any work. Make sure you document this.

Keep the AMP and Register on site and provide the updated asbestos register and AMP to

contractors etc before starting work. The AMP & Register must be updated yearly.

If asbestos is found then the building needs to be regularly audited if the decision is to leave the ACM

onsite in a stable “contained” state rather than to remove it.

Asbestos is a serious health risk that must be managed. Immediate action to comply with the

legislative changes is advised.



Business opportunities Things may be a bit slow in business land at the minute but the asbestos removable industry is a

cracker.

There is a short supply of people trained (and competent) in

asbestos awareness and removal; supervisors and

assessors are much needed. I was a safety meeting recently

and talking with several blokes who were excavators. They

advised they were moving away from general excavation into

ACM (there’s that acronym again) removal. Same goes for

those who see an opportunity and a move from labour

intensive construction work to asbestos work. This is gaining

momentum in the construction contracting industry today.

Generally for Startup businesses or businesses that change

their business model, this sad “needles of death” business

presents a stable business outlook because even though

Australia stopped mining asbestos in 1983, phased out its

use in building products by 1989 and banned it entirely from

2004, it’s everywhere.

NBN Co is the government-owned corporation building the

fibre optic network and its latest corporate plan says it will

complete the project by 2020 -21.

NBN Co itself describes its task as ''challenging''. By 2016 it

plans to be wiring up an extraordinary 6100 premises per day. If the schedule slips so that it finishes

four years later, in 2025, that’s a lot of asbestos to be removed over a long time.

Burdened by the asbestos incident at Penrith, Telstra has suspended NBN work when it was found

some contractors did not provide competent asbestos removal workers.

Asbestos is everywhere in Australia’s built environment so good work ahead for those who operate in

this industry.

A word of warning to those moving into the asbestos removal business. NBN contractors are sacking

workers across the state because it is unknown when Telstra will restart remediation work on

Penrith asbestos contamination Mr O'Farrell said he arrived home on May 8 to find workers - who were not wearing safety equipment - breaking up asbestos near his front yard. He saw the dust spray all over his house and front lawn. WorkCover suspended the subcontractor responsible. It is believe the subcontractor had worked on 20 other sites in the Penrith region. A report from an independent hygienist confirmed three of the pits tested positive for asbestos. ``The more I looked the more asbestos I found. Then you think, 'Is it in my wife's lungs, my children's lungs and my baby's lungs?'."



asbestos-affected pits. It has been 10 weeks since the Telstra remediation works stopped so careful

business and financial planning is required before throwing all your eggs into the Telstra pits.

For the full report visit: http://alertforce.com.au/download-your-free-

asbestos-report/

James Hardy Meanwhile – a note on asbestos product claims. Claims against James Hardy (the Netherlands based company – or is it Ireland now? anyway… they were here in Australia) are increasing with the average claim higher than first budgeted. James Hardy assumed claims would peak in 2011 however are now thinking the “peak” is somewhere in the future and they have advised they are “keeping an eye” on the trend. With an increase in claims and the higher average pay-out, there is pressure on the fund set up for compensation, for those who have asbestos related diseases linked to James Hardy products. James Hardie Chief said (of sorts) its profit was expected to remain steady as housing conditions here and overseas improved. Phew!

an insiders guide to asbestos removal

Education

national strategic

compliance

whs act amp

asbestos survey

james hardy

work health

insiders guide

fatal attraction