Asbestos Awareness
Training for Schools
Contents
1. Why do you need to know about Asbestos?
2. DEECD OHS Management System
3. What is Asbestos?
4. Asbestos in Schools
5. Managing Asbestos Risk
6. Case Studies
7. Labelling
8. Summary
9. Questions
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01
Why do you need to know about
Asbestos?
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Why do you need to know about Asbestos?
• Asbestos is a hazardous building material which, if disturbed,
can pose a serious health and safety risk
• You have a legal and regulatory obligation
• You have a contractual obligation under the terms of your
employment contract
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02
OHS Management System
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DEECD OHS Management System
• The OHS Management System is a set of plans, actions and procedures to assist
principals to systematically manage health and safety in the workplace
• The DEECD OHSMS contains information on Hazardous Building Materials including
asbestos
• The DEECD OHSMS also contain the following documents for schools to adopt and use to
ensure ACM are appropriately managed:
– Asbestos Management Plan template
– OHS Activities Calendar – including visual inspections of ACM
– OHS Risk Register – including asbestos
– Contractor Management – including Contractor Induction
• Schools may contact DEECD’s OHS Advisory Service on 1300 074 715 for support and
assistance to address general OHS issues on site
• Report incidents in eduSafe
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What are your responsibilities?
Regulatory Compliance
• Subject to the general control and direction of the Secretary, the principal of a school is
responsible for … ensuring safe working practices in the school in accordance with the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Ministerial Order 199, 2009)
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007, Part 4.3 – Asbestos
– Division 5 – Asbestos in workplaces
– Division 6 – Demolition & Refurbishment
DEECD OHSMS
• Manage all asbestos contained within your school buildings and on school property
• Maintain your Asbestos Management Plan which details the location and past treatment
of asbestos within your school – including quarterly inspections of all identified asbestos
• Ensure your Asbestos Management Plan is updated as and when changes occur
• Ensure the Plan contains details of the nominated Workplace Asbestos Coordinator for
the school
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DTZ Roles and Responsibilities
• The Asbestos Program is delivered via a contracted services provider, DTZ Pty Ltd.,
who provides professional services under the program and oversees all phases of the
asbestos management process
• DTZ:
– Provides technical and practical advice on asbestos management via a 24 hour
hotline (1300 133 468)
– Undertakes asbestos assessment, removal and remediation works
– Schedules and conducts asbestos audits as part of the annual audit program
– Schedules and conducts ad hoc asbestos audits, and
– Schedules and conducts asbestos training sessions
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03
What is Asbestos?
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What is Asbestos?
• Asbestos is a hazardous building material which was used widely in the past, but
has been banned for use in Australia since 31 December 2003
• There are three types of asbestos which were commonly used in Australia:
– Crocidolite - Blue asbestos
– Amosite - Brown asbestos
– Chrysotile - White asbestos
Chrysotile
(Serpentine)
Crocidolite
(Amphibole)
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Uses of Asbestos in Australia
Estimated to have been used in over 3000 applications
• Thermal Insulation
• Fire-proofing materials (sprayed limpet, fire door cores)
• Friction materials (brake linings)
• Decorative and acoustic applications
• Asbestos cement / fibro cement sheet (roofs, eaves, wall & ceiling
linings)
• Asbestos cement molded products (pipes, flues, gutters, cable pits)
• Vinyl floor coverings and adhesives
• Asbestos felts and paper-like products
• Gaskets
• Electrical switchboards, insulators and fittings
• Textiles (rope seals, woven cloth, blankets)
• Mastics (e.g. putty and resins) and glues
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04
Asbestos in Schools
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Uses of Asbestos in Schools
Splashback/Glue to Urinals and
Behind Ceramic Tiles
Bituminous Material Under Sinks
Cement Flue to Heating Unit
Eaves and Infill Panels
Floor Steps
Ceilings and Walls
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Uses of Asbestos in Schools
Mastic (Putty) Expansion Joints
Lining to Safes and Fire Doors
Gaskets to Pipework
Electrical Switchboards
Lining to Fume Cupboards
Vinyl Floor Tiles
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05
Managing Asbestos
Risk
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What are the Risks from Asbestos?
If ACM is in good condition and left in place, it is
unlikely that asbestos fibres will be released into
the air and the risk to health is extremely low
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What are the Risks from Asbestos?
• Research has shown a clear link between exposure to asbestos and respiratory cancers
and asbestosis in humans
• Exposure occurs through breathing in airborne asbestos fibres
High
Low
Friable Asbestos
Damaged
(may be crumbled,
pulverized or
reduced to powder
by hand pressure)
Frequent disturbance
Bonded Asbestos
Unsealed
Enclosed/Encapsulated
Rare disturbance
Undamaged
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Bonded vs Friable Asbestos
Bonded Asbestos
Friable Asbestos
• Flat, corrugated or compressed asbestos
cement sheeting
• Sprayed limpet insulation
• Asbestos cement pipes (electrical/water pipes)
• Millboard insulation
• Older caulking and glazing compounds
• Drywall mudding compound and
• Older vinyl floor tiles and vinyl sheet flooring
• Pipe and boiler lagging
• Asbestos cloth and rope
• Brake and clutch linings
• Older electrical switchboards
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Damaged Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM)
Friable
Non Friable
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Managing Risks from Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM)
What you need to do to mitigate the risk
• Ensure you know where asbestos is present in your school – this can be done by reviewing the
Asbestos Register and the Asbestos Management Plan
• Ensure that all contractors, maintenance staff and volunteers are provided with an OHS
induction and review the Asbestos Register before starting work. Refer Contractor Induction
Checklist, Employee Induction Checklist, and Volunteer Work and Working Bee OHS Induction
Checklist.
• Ensure that the Asbestos Register is updated whenever there is any work done, when there is a
change to the condition of any asbestos or if it is removed, enclosed or sealed
• Principal or Asbestos Coordinator must conduct a visual inspection of all asbestos-containing
materials (and materials presumed to contain asbestos) every 3 months. Document Results in
the Asbestos Management Plan
• A copy of the asbestos register should be held by each school
– An electronic copy is held on the Schools Facilities Website:
https://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/schoolfacilitiesprofile/SFPW3.aspx
• Ensure an intrusive (“Division 6”) audit is undertaken prior to any demolition or refurbishment
works. Asbestos removal must be factored into the scope and cost of school-initiated works
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Asbestos Management Plan
• Template available at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/principals/management/asbestosmgtplan.docx
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Visual Inspection Record
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Dealing with Damaged Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM)
• If Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) are in good condition and left undisturbed, it is usually
safer to leave it fixed or installed and review its condition over time
• However, if ACM has deteriorated, has been disturbed, or if asbestos-contaminated dust is
present, the likelihood that asbestos fibres will be released into the air is increased and the
material should generally be removed
The following actions are to be taken if suspected ACM has been disturbed
or damaged:
• Cease any work or activity
• Isolate the area (e.g. lock doors or place cones, to prevent access)
• Ring the DTZ Hotline (1300 133 468) to register the incident and obtain advice
• Report the incident in eduSafe
• Ring the DEECD OHS Advisory Service (1300 074 715) or email
safety@edumail.vic.gov.au if further OHS advice is required
• Seek assistance from DEECD Communications Unit (03 9637 2000)
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Asbestos Removal or Maintenance Work on ACM
• All work involving asbestos must always be performed by an appropriately licensed (Class
A) asbestos removal contractor
• Works must be undertaken out of hours (e.g. weekends or holidays) to minimise potential for
exposure by staff and students
• Removal contractor must notify WorkSafe 5 days in advance (unless it is an emergency
situation)
• A hygienist will attend site to conduct air monitoring during the removal and provide a final
clearance
• Contractors must complete a Permit to Work (ASB1) prior to conducting any destructive or
asbestos-based work (refer Appendix 1 of the DEECD Asbestos Management Plan template)
• Contractors must fill out a Completion Form (ASB2) upon completion of any destructive or
asbestos-based work
• File documentation in the school Asbestos File (i.e. the file containing hard copies of the
Asbestos Register, Asbestos Management Plan, visual inspection records, clearance
certificates etc.)
Consult the Asbestos Register before doing any intrusive
maintenance/repair work!
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06
Case Studies
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Case Study – Prosecution by WorkSafe Victoria
Context
• In 2012, DEECD was prosecuted for breaches of occupational health and safety
legislation arising out of asbestos management at two separate Victorian
Government schools
• WorkSafe was notified of potential issues with asbestos management at the
schools following works that were undertaken at the schools
• At the first school, building works were conducted at the school, including the
removal of a classroom wall which allegedly contained asbestos material
• At the other school, a working bee was conducted with parents on a weekend,
including the alleged sanding down of corridor walls with asbestos containing
materials
• WorkSafe initially notified the principals that it was considering prosecuting the
principals personally. This is because principals are “persons who manage or
control workplaces” and so individually have statutory duties under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
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Case Study – Prosecution by WorkSafe Victoria
Charges
• The charges against the Department related to the school’s alleged management
of asbestos. The allegations were, in summary:
– Failure to ensure that the asbestos register was reviewed and updated in the 5
year period required by law
– Failure to identify the presence and location of asbestos at each of the schools
by labelling, in circumstances where it was reasonably practicable to do so (as
required by law).
Enforceable Undertaking
• In order to avoid prosecution, the Department negotiated an Enforceable
Undertaking (EU) with WorkSafe. The conditions of the EU include:
– At least 400 Division 5 school audits must be completed by 30 June 2014
– Labelling must be undertaken in schools, following an agreed process, in
conjunction with the audit programme
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Case Study – Prosecution by WorkSafe Victoria
Lessons / Recommendations
• Sound practices/best practice is for the Asbestos Coordinator to do a 3 month review and
revision of the asbestos register
• The review and revision of the register is the formal requirement, but in discharging this
formal requirement, it enables the principal to keep an eye on the whole school facilities Start of each school term is a good time for the quarterly inspection
• By complying with the statutory obligation to review and revise the register, in looking at
what changes there have been to the state of asbestos, it enables the principal to make
broader, strategic decisions about infrastructure
• The 3 month review enables you to think about who is accessing the register and keep the
register up to date:
– Have new office staff come in to the office?
– Are office staff on leave so does the principal have to train new staff?
– Appropriate review of the register
Next Steps
• The Department is certainly moving to a more proactive approach to labelling, linked to the
Division 5 audit process
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Case Study – Principal Video
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07
Labelling
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Labelling at Schools
• Labelling is one (of many) tools provided to help
Principals meet their OHS obligations and
manage ACM in their school
• Labels are being placed in schools with known
ACM during scheduled audits
• A warning sign is placed at the entrance to the
school and/or the main building (reception)
• Additionally, warning labels are placed at the
entrance(s) to buildings with known ACM
• If necessary, extra labels are left with the school
to be placed on buildings confirmed to contain
asbestos following the survey
• Labels will be A5 size
• The Department has developed a
comprehensive communications plan to support
the implementation of the labelling policy
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Summary
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Summary
If ACM is in good condition and left in place, it is unlikely that asbestos fibres
will be released into the air and the risk to health is extremely low
• Ensure there is an Asbestos Management Plan for the school
• Ensure there is a nominated Workplace Asbestos Coordinator for the school
• Ensure the latest version of the school’s Asbestos Register is readily available at all times
• Review the Asbestos Register to ensure you know where asbestos is found in your school
– Assume all inaccessible or limited access areas contain asbestos until proved otherwise
• Consult the Asbestos Register before doing any intrusive maintenance/repair work
• Ensure that the Asbestos Register is updated whenever there is any work done, when there is
a change to the condition of any asbestos or if it is removed, enclosed or sealed
• Conduct a visual inspection at least every 3 months – regardless of any changes
• Ensure a Division 6 audit is undertaken prior to any demolition or refurbishment works
Ring the DTZ Hotline (1300 133 468) to report an asbestos issue, to
request an audit, or if you have any queries or concerns about asbestos
in your school
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09
Questions?
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