National Strategic Plan for
Asbestos Management and
Awareness
Peter Tighe
Chief Executive Officer, Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
Deaths due to mesothelioma: number by sex, 1997 to 2011
700
600
500
400
Males
Females
300
Total persons
200
100
0
1997 1998
1999 2000
2001 2002
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2009 2010
2011
Safe Work Australia, Asbestos Related Disease Indicators, September 2014
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
• Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 passed
with bipartisan support - Agency commenced operation
on 1 July 2013
• Focus on issues beyond work health and safety to
encompass environmental and public health issues
• Implementation and delivery of National strategic Plan
for Asbestos Management and Awareness
• The Agency and Minister will be informed by the
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council
• National Asbestos Exposure Register launched 3 June
2013, managed by agency. Over 2,000 registrations so far
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Functions of Agency
• Coordinate, monitor and report on the
implementation of the National Strategic Plan for
Asbestos Management and Awareness
• Provide advice to the Minister about asbestos safety
and management
• Liaise with commonwealth, state, territory and local
and other governments, agencies or bodies
• Commission, monitor and promote research about
asbestos safety.
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Revised National Strategic Plan
• Revision of National Strategic Plan through 2014
• Developed in consultation with all levels of
government and stakeholders
• Principles to guide the plan include:
– Precaution
– Evidence-based decision making
– Transparency
– Public participation
– Collaboration
• All states and territories have endorsed the plan
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
National Strategic Plan – 6 strategies
Awareness
• Increased
community
awareness of risks
& health impacts
• Improved
accessibility to
information
• Cultural and
behavioural
change in
commercial and
residential
environments.
Best Practice
Identification
• Evidence-based
best practice to
minimise risks
• Evidence-based
model for grading
in-situ asbestos
• Model training for
workers likely to
be exposed and
increased
competencies
• Improved
stabilisation for
ACMs in poor
condition
• Support for
communities to
manage risk during
natural disasters
and emergencies
• Improved ACM
transport, storage
and disposal.
• Improved ID and
management of
info regarding
asbestos
contaminated land
• Estimate total
presence of ACMs
in built
environment
• Improved ID of
risks, particularly in
DIY renovators
• Coordinated
response when
ACMs in imported
products are
identified.
Removal
Research
International Leadership
• Priority actions to
support removal of
ACM in poor
condition
• Coordination of
key research
supporting
evidence informed
policy and practice
• Effective
coordination of
international issues
relating to
asbestos and ARDs
• Commission
research
identifying
practical and
innovative
approaches to
prevent or
minimise risks
from exposure to
asbestos.
• Australia
recognised an
international voice
of global campaign
against asbestos
hazards
• Evidence-based
practical options
for removing ACMs
in poor condition
• Asbestos removal
infrastructure can
meet the future
needs and
demands of ageing
ACMs
• Review of barriers
to safe removal of
ACMs and
evaluation of
challenges faced by
government,
commercial and
residential sectors.
• Best practice
processes on
awareness,
management and
eradication shared
internationally.
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Next steps for National Strategic Plan
realistic achievements
2014 - 2018
NSP 2014-2018
aspirational goals beyond 2018
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Agency projects
• Revising national strategic plan – completed, endorsed by all states and
territories
• Strengthening asbestos-related training materials in the utilities sector
• Provision of services to develop National asbestos awareness program for
health professionals and general community
• Asbestos identification tool – pilot project
• ID of current and future capacity for asbestos waste disposal
• Development of asbestos awareness app and communications campaign
• Projections for the future burden of mesothelioma in Australia
• Buyer behaviour/influences towards the use of asbestos content reports in the
residential property sector
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Agency projects
• Asbestos in remote indigenous communities
• Additional research into asbestos identification and grading tools used in
Australia
• Evidence based report on the risks of asbestos exposure in the Australian
community
• Review issues and successful initiatives to combat dumping af asbestoscontaining materials
• 2015 International conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management –
November 2015
• Testing of actual asbestos fibres released during removal work
• Review of existing asbestos communications campaigns
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Agency projects
• Study of existing asbestos regulations and their impact on business and
productivity
• Asbestos identification in the home
• Explore how best practice of asbestos management is demonstrated
through case studies
• Strategic review of the practice and use of asbestos registers in Australia
• Supporting Bernie Banton Foundation ‘Stan’s Van’ mobile awareness unit
• Remote community legacy asbestos mapping project
• Supporting Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia – trades training
program
www.asbestossafety.gov.au
Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency

Level 8, 255 Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

enquiries@asbestossafety.gov.au

1300 363 079
@AsbestosSafety
@Peter_Tighe
www.asbestossafety.gov.au