What is it?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that has many technical characteristics. Due to its versatile nature, with more than 3000 applications worldwide, it was widely used in the past for the production of building materials such as roofing, fencing, floor tiles and carport ceilings.

It has been reported that Australia was one of the highest per capita users of asbestos during between 1950 and 1970, with construction companies, textile mills and other production and repair facilities being the main users. Many buildings constructed prior to 1990 are likely to have materials containing asbestos within them.

As older buildings are requiring repairs and home renovating is becoming increasingly popular, the growing importance of asbestos awareness and removal is imperative.

Information on asbestos in the workplace and at home can be found on the Australian Asbestos Networkand the Australian Government website.

The risks

The trades most at risk for developing asbestos related diseases include construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and insulation workers, however all trades (not to mention homeowners who are taking on their own renovations) have the potential to be exposed if proper precaution is not taken.

The most common asbestos related diseases include Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and various cancers. Symptoms may not appear for 10 to 50 years, and as such, peak mortality rates are expected around 2020. If you’d like more information or support, please visit the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Incwebsite.

Removal

An employer or self employed person may remove non-friable asbestos if the area of asbestos containing material to be removed does not exceed a total of 10 square metres and the total removal time does not exceed one hour in a seven day period. 

Persons that are employed to perform asbestos removal tasks must be appropriately trained. Training, instruction and supervision with thorough risk management must occur before any removal is considered. 

Employers should ensure their employees and contractors are suitably aware of the hazards surrounding asbestos and how the risks must be managed in certain situations. Asbestos awareness can be enhanced by undertaking an asbestos awareness and removal course or by ensuring employers verify an asbestos removalist’s licence, before any work commences, when engaging a third party. 

Master Builders Association Victoria provides a comprehensive Non-Friable Asbestos Removal Awareness course. 

Completion of this course is sufficient for the purpose of undertaking unlicensed removal activities. The course can also be put forward as evidence of training for the purpose of obtaining a Class B Asbestos License from WorkSafe Victoria (along with other evidence that WorkSafe requires).

Details of the requirements to obtain an Asbestos Removal License can be found here.

http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/licensing/worksafe-licence-types-and-fees/application-for-a-licence-to-operate-as-an-asbestos-removalist

For any work involving areas greater than 10 square metres, or more importantly involving removal of friable asbestos materials, a licensed asbestos contractor must be used. 

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (2007) two asbestos containing material licences are defined.

1. Asbestos removalists who hold a Class A licence are permitted to remove all types of asbestos, including both friable and non-friable asbestos.

2. Asbestos removalists who hold a Class B licence can remove all types of non-friable asbestos.

For more information on licensed removalists, refer to the WorkSafe Victoria website.

Terminology

Non-friable: When the asbestos fibres have been mixed during processing with a material that bound them together so they can be used in different products – this includes asbestos cement sheeting and other materials where fibres are bonded into a matrix.

Friable: when dry, is in powder form, or can easily be crushed into powder form. If non-friable asbestos is damaged or has deteriorated, it may become friable and be a high risk of fibre disease.

Comprehensive asbestos information can be found at www.asbestos.vic.gov.au or your local state government website.

For more information about Master Builders’ training in asbestos awareness and removal, contact us on (03) 9411 4555.