Asbestos
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a generic term for a number of fibrous silicate rock-forming minerals. As a naturally occurring rock fibre, asbestos is mined then broken down from mineral clumps into groups of loose fibres.
Airborne asbestos fibres are small, odourless and tasteless. It presents a health risk when it crumbles and the fine fibres are breathed into the lungs.
Where is it found?
Buildings, houses and flats erected before 1988 may contain asbestos.
Asbestos is also often found within soil where building, houses and flats have been demolished.
Examples of where asbestos can be commonly found in buildings include;
- fibro sheeting (commonly found in older garages, bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and external walls)
- roofs (including eaves and gables)
- vinyl tiles and backing
- guttering
- drainage and flue pipes
- formwork beneath slabs
- electrical backing boards
Hazardous substances
A number of other substances may be present particularly in older buildings that may present health risks if disturbed during renovation or demolition work including but not limited to;
- Lead paint (often in paints used in houses built prior to 1970)
- Synthetic Mineral Fibres (used for thermal and acoustic insulation, and reinforcing agents)
- PCB’s (found in older fluorescent light fittings, transformers and capacitors)
Removal and handling of asbestos as part of a development application
Licensed asbestos removal contractors are to be used for the removal of asbestos for amounts greater than 10 square meters.
Note: To be licensed for removal of asbestos, an asbestos removal contractor must hold an AS1 or AS2 licence issued by WorkCover. A demolition licence or certificates obtained from a one or two day asbestos TAFE course does not constitute an asbestos removal license.
Council normally requires a Hazardous Material Survey / Audit and any associated Hazardous Substances Management Plan be prepared for all development applications that involve the demolition of a building.
Demolition means the defacing, destruction, pulling down or removal of that building in whole or in part.
This requirement is in accordance with Australian Standard AS2601:2001 – The Demolition of Structures
The hazardous substances audit and any associated management plan may be required up front as part of the assessment process prior to Council issuing consent for the development. Alternatively they may be required to be completed as part of the conditions of development consent.
Removal and handling of asbestos that is not part of a development application
It is important to get advice about how to identify, remove and handle asbestos and hazardous substances properly.
Special care and management is needed even for small renovation jobs that don’t require a development application.
Beasy Pty Ltd recommends you:
- Treat all fibro sheets as if they contain asbestos unless tested.
- Use a licensed asbestos removal contractor to remove all materials containing asbestos.
What do you do if you find asbestos in your home?
If asbestos containing material is in sound condition and left undisturbed it generally will not present a significant health risk. If asbestos fibres remain firmly bound in a solid cement sheet or structure such as in ‘fibro’ sheeting, you do not usually need to remove the fibro or even coat it.
If you have materials in your home you suspect may contain asbestos and are concerned with potential health risks Beasy Pty Ltd recommends you contact an Occupational Hygienist or other qualified consultant to sample and analyse the material.
If the material does contain asbestos these qualified persons can also provide advice on how to manage the risks associated with the material.
Asbestos definitions as per the NSW OH&S Regulation 2001 (Sect. 8.7)
- asbestos means the fibrous form of those mineral silicates that belong to the serpentine or amphibole groups of rock-forming minerals, including actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos), anthophyllite, chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) and tremolite.
- asbestos work means work undertaken in connection with a construction work process in which exposure to asbestos may occur and includes any work process involving the use, application, removal, mixing or other handling of asbestos or asbestos-containing material.
- bonded asbestos materialmeans any material (other than friable asbestos material) that contains asbestos.
- bonded asbestos removal work means work in which bonded asbestos material is removed, repaired or disturbed.
- friable asbestos material means any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be crumbled, pulverised or educed to powder by hand pressure when dry.
- friable asbestos removal work means work in which friable asbestos material is removed, repaired or disturbed.
Note.
Carrying on the business of asbestos removal work requires a licence
(see Chapter 10 of the NSW OH&S Regulation 2001).
Friable asbestos removal work also requires a permit
(see Chapter 11 of the NSW OH&S Regulation 2001).
